Microglia play vital roles in central nervous system (CNS) development, homeostasis, and pathology. In this project, we use our published transcriptomic dataset from regional bulk and whole brain single-cell sequencing of zebrafish microglia to investigate the role of genes critical for microglia function during brain development. Specifically, we are interested in genes enriched in two populations of microglia that were transcriptional and functionally unique namely, neurogenic-associated microglia (NAMs) and synapse-associated microglia (SAMs). Using the power of CRISPR technology in the zebrafish, we mutate candidate genes enriched in these two populations of microglia to understand how they regulate brain development.

 

Related Publications

Microglial cathepsin B is necessary for neuronal efferocytosis in zebrafish and mice during brain development.
Silva, N.J., Anderson, S.R., Mula, S.A, Escoubas, C.C, Nakajo, H, and Molofsky, A.V.. Nature Communications (Accepted) [PubMed]

Extracellular matrix proteolysis maintains synapse plasticity during brain development.
Nakajo H, Cao R, Mula S.A., Mcketney J, Silva N.J., Li K.H., Chalkley R.J., Randolph L, Shah M, Rose I.V.L., Kampmann M, Swaney D.L., Kirst C, Molofsky A.V.. Nature Neuroscience [PubMed]

In situ and transcriptomic identification of microglia in synapse rich regions of the developing zebrafish brain.
Silva N.J., Dorman L.C., Vainchtein I.D., Horneck N.C., Molofsky A.V.. Nature Communications 12 (1):5916 [PubMed]