Guest Editors
Bettina Carmen Kirchmaier
Department of Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences
Dr. Bettina Carmen Kirchmaier is a developmental biologist with expertise in neurovascular interactions, vascular stability, and animal model systems. She received her doctorate in biology from Julius-Maximilians University Würzburg in 2010. Her doctoral research focused on heart arrhythmias in mouse and zebrafish models. From 2010 to 2014, she was a postdoctoral researcher at the Hubrecht Institute for Developmental Biology and Stem Cell Research in Utrecht, in the Schulte-Merker Lab, where she investigated vascular stability in zebrafish. Since 2014, Dr. Kirchmaier has served as a scientific associate at the Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences in Frankfurt, working in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology. Her research focuses on neurovascular interactions and animal welfare, using mouse and zebrafish model systems.Dr. Kirchmaier’s work reflects a deep commitment to advancing understanding in cardiovascular and neurovascular biology, with a strong foundation in in vivo research using model organisms.
Holger Dill
Department of Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences
Dr. Holger Dill is a molecular biologist with a strong background in neurobiology, genome engineering, and RNA biology. He earned his doctorate in chemistry from the Julius-Maximilians University Würzburg in 2012, following a diploma in biology from the same institution in 2007.Dr. Dill has held multiple postdoctoral research positions at leading scientific institutions across Europe. Since 2017, he has served as a scientific associate at the Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences in Frankfurt within the Department of Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology. Before that, he conducted postdoctoral research at the Hubrecht Institute for Developmental Biology and Stem Cell Research in Utrecht and the Institute of Molecular Biology in Mainz, focusing on non-coding RNA biology.His research interests span a wide range of topics, including zebrafish as a model organism, molecular biology, genome engineering, optogenetics, neurobiology, and RNA biology. In addition to his scientific work, Dr. Dill is also actively engaged in scientific management.
Kenny Mattonet
Imaging Platform, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research
Dr. Kenny Mattonet is the head of the Imaging Platform at the Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research in Bad Nauheim, Germany. His team provides access to light and electron microscopy, as well as small animal micro-computed tomography (µCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). He is particularly focused on making complex imaging techniques more accessible. To this end, his research emphasizes the development of automated imaging and image analysis pipelines. Dr. Mattonet earned his Ph.D. from the Stainier lab, where he researched early hematovascular development in the zebrafish embryo. Before that, he completed his undergraduate studies in biochemistry and biology at the universities in Hamburg and Frankfurt.
Collection Overview
Zebrafish have become an exceedingly popular model organism due to several advantageous characteristics, including a short generation time, rapid external development, transparent embryos, and relatively low maintenance costs. However, as with other vertebrate laboratory animals, legal regulations and ethical constraints regarding their use in scientific research are becoming increasingly stringent. Consequently, there is a growing need to develop noninvasive techniques that allow precise manipulation of zebrafish physiology and behavior while minimizing harm and reducing the number of animals used in experiments—both at embryonic and adult stages.
Such noninvasive approaches include advanced methods of genetic manipulation (e.g., CRISPR-based tools), the targeted application of chemicals or small molecules, laser- or chemical-based cell and tissue ablation, and optogenetics (e.g., using light to modulate neuronal activity). In addition to experimental interventions, this collection will also highlight innovations in noninvasive zebrafish husbandry and genotyping methods, such as intact embryo genotyping and skin swabbing or environmental enrichment, which support the implementation of the 3Rs principle (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement).
This Methods Collection showcases state-of-the-art protocols and technologies, aiming to provide researchers with powerful tools to advance zebrafish-based research that aligns with evolving ethical standards, ensuring both scientific progress and animal welfare. We particularly welcome contributions that explore creative solutions to limit animal stress, refine experimental procedures, and enhance reproducibility and efficiency in zebrafish research.
Articles
Abstracts
EGFP Reporter Assay in Transgenic Zebrafish Embryos for Assessing Formulation-Dependent dsRNA Bioavailability
Hannah-Philine Dey*1,
Fabian Weichert2,
Christoph Hellmann3,
Bettina Kirchmaier4,
Esther van der Zalm5,
Elke Eilebrecht6,
Henner Hollert2,
Susanne Baer5,
Sebastian Eilebrecht*7
1Evolutionary Ecology & Environmental Toxicology, Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany; German Environment Agency (UBA), Germany; Ecotoxicogenomics, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology (IME), Germany,
2Evolutionary Ecology & Environmental Toxicology, Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany; Environmental Media Related Ecotoxicology, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology (IME), Germany,
3Pest and Vector Insect Control, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology (IME), Germany,
4Institute of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, University of Frankfurt, Germany,
5German Environment Agency (UBA), Germany,
6Ecotoxicology, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology (IME), Germany,
7Ecotoxicogenomics, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology (IME), Germany