Animal models mimicking human diseases are necessary tools to translate knowledge from basic science to applications for patients. Since cause and development of a disease involve multiple factors (i.e. internal-genetic, external-toxic), several different models and, if appropriate, different species (i.e. mouse, primate) need to be examined. For this reason we work on or with the following mouse models:

Parkinsonian phenotype

Toxin-induced

1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)

established

Gene-based

transgenic ([A30P]α-synuclein)

established, in cooperation with P.J. Kahle and C. Haass (Munich), [1]

knockout (HtrA2/Omi)

established, in cooperation with L.M. Martins and J. Downward J (UK) [2]

Point mutations

work in progress, in cooperation with N. Brose (MPI Exp. Med., Göttingen)

Unknown phenotype (genes involved in neuronal apoptosis)

Conditional (time- and/or tissue-specific) gene inactivation

Cre/LoxP-recombinase system

work in progress, in cooperation with S. Göbbels and K.-A. Nave (MPI Exp. Med., Göttingen)