Drosophila: A Genetic Model for Studying Human Diseases

Dear Colleagues,

In recent decades, we have achieved great advances in the investigation of the cellular and molecular processes that underlie human disease. Studies conducted in different model organisms including Drosophila melanogaster are rapidly improving our basic understanding regarding the cellular and molecular principles of human disease. Specifically, the powerful genetic toolbox, tissue accessibility, short lifecycle, and large progeny have conferred to fruit flies a central role in the investigation of the origins of human disease. These features of Drosophila have been instrumental to generate preclinical settings to uncover novel therapeutic approaches. Therefore, Drosophila plays a central role in the study of the mechanisms involved in disease progression, and the efficient screening for candidate targets and preclinical studies. It is well known that Drosophila as an experimental model has unique genetic tools that allow the fine-tuning of gene expression and therefore can mimic different complex pathological conditions. In addition, the high conservation of genes involved in human disease makes Drosophila an advantageous animal model to study human disease. These features have been instrumental to generating preclinical settings to uncover novel therapeutic approaches.

This Special Issue aims to illustrate how this insect has helped us to model and even alleviate numerous human pathologies such as cancer, neurological diseases, or metabolic disorders.

Dr. Sergio Casas-Tintó
Dr. Luis Alberto Baena-López
Guest Editors

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