We are pleased to introduce the Research Topic, "Model Organisms in Ion Channels and Channelopathies in the Nervous System: Insects".
Model organisms represent an invaluable resource for fundamental and applied research, allowing prediction studies, modeling, and the identification of action mechanisms. This article collection will showcase studies of Model Organisms that have significance to the field of Integrative and Regenerative Pharmacology as a whole.
Classically used for biomedical studies, model organisms are progressively entering many disciplines including the Ion Channels and Channelopathies field. This is presently the case of the insect family. Indeed, while Drosophila has been successfully used for long as a model for gene manipulations in order to study the intimate mechanisms of genetic diseases for instance, other insect species are now receiving more and more attention, especially for the characterization of the voltage and ligand-gated ion channels involved in neurotransmission and neuronal activity. This fact may originate from the growing concern of insect losses from our environment. It is now clear that many insect species are endangered, especially pollinators as the honeybees, which disappearance is a threat to human survival. More specifically, honeybee disappearance may be caused by different insults, including direct toxicity of environmentally spread man-made molecules, as those used in agriculture as pesticides and herbicides. A wide array of these molecules targets the central nervous system leading altered neurotransmission and motor dysfunction.
Nevertheless, compared to their mammalian counterparts, the molecular identity of insect ion channels is not entirely deciphered. In addition, insect species diversity may also add to the complexity of these studies. However, these characterizations are invaluable in the view of designing selective ligands for these ion channels.
The goals of the collection are to provide and gather state-of-the-art knowledge on the structure of insect ion channels and the associated pharmacological properties of ligands, including both naturally-occurring as toxins and synthetic agents. The collection will also include studies aimed at evaluating ion channel ligands on insect behavior.
Keywords:
Model Organisms, Channelopathies, Regenerative Pharmacology
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
We are pleased to introduce the Research Topic, "Model Organisms in Ion Channels and Channelopathies in the Nervous System: Insects".
Model organisms represent an invaluable resource for fundamental and applied research, allowing prediction studies, modeling, and the identification of action mechanisms. This article collection will showcase studies of Model Organisms that have significance to the field of Integrative and Regenerative Pharmacology as a whole.
Classically used for biomedical studies, model organisms are progressively entering many disciplines including the Ion Channels and Channelopathies field. This is presently the case of the insect family. Indeed, while Drosophila has been successfully used for long as a model for gene manipulations in order to study the intimate mechanisms of genetic diseases for instance, other insect species are now receiving more and more attention, especially for the characterization of the voltage and ligand-gated ion channels involved in neurotransmission and neuronal activity. This fact may originate from the growing concern of insect losses from our environment. It is now clear that many insect species are endangered, especially pollinators as the honeybees, which disappearance is a threat to human survival. More specifically, honeybee disappearance may be caused by different insults, including direct toxicity of environmentally spread man-made molecules, as those used in agriculture as pesticides and herbicides. A wide array of these molecules targets the central nervous system leading altered neurotransmission and motor dysfunction.
Nevertheless, compared to their mammalian counterparts, the molecular identity of insect ion channels is not entirely deciphered. In addition, insect species diversity may also add to the complexity of these studies. However, these characterizations are invaluable in the view of designing selective ligands for these ion channels.
The goals of the collection are to provide and gather state-of-the-art knowledge on the structure of insect ion channels and the associated pharmacological properties of ligands, including both naturally-occurring as toxins and synthetic agents. The collection will also include studies aimed at evaluating ion channel ligands on insect behavior.
Keywords:
Model Organisms, Channelopathies, Regenerative Pharmacology
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.