EASTBIO: Studying seizure using frog tadpoles as an animal model The University of Manchester in United Kingdom

Unprovoked seizure activities are the main defining feature for epilepsy, which affects 1 in every 26 people during their lifetime. Developing brain is more susceptible to seizures potentially due to higher neural plasticity and active circuit formation and these early seizures may be linked with epileptic seizure in adulthood. Therefore, it is helpful to establish and study seizure using animals early in development (D'Amora M et al., 2023; Marshall GF et al., 2021).

In this project, we plan to use Xenopus laevis tadpoles (2 to 5 days old) to study seizure mechanisms. Previously, pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) with a few other chemoconvulsant chemicals had been applied to tadpoles and successfully induced seizure-like activities, which typically showed increased immobility and coiling movements (Hewapathirane DS et al., 2008). We aim to build on this work and identify what type of onset the seizure belongs to, i.e. generalised, focal or unknown. We then will confirm if the seizure is restricted to the motor system or it also has other non-motor symptoms. Finally in the motor system, we plan to disclose what neuronal mechanisms mediate the immobilisation and coiling activities. The main approaches include the use of behavioural analyses to establish the main seizure symptoms, whole-brain calcium imaging to analyse the onset and propagation of seizure activity within the CNS and electrophysiology (whole-cell recordings in both current- and voltage-clamp modes) to identify mechanisms underlying the phenotypical seizure-like motor outputs (Roberts A et al., 2010).

HOW TO APPLY

Application instructions can be found on the EASTBIO website- https://biology.ed.ac.uk/eastbio/how-to-apply

1)     Download and complete the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion survey.

2)     Download and complete the EASTBIO Application Form.

3)     Submit an application to St Andrews University through the Online Application Portal

Your online application must include the following documents:

-         Completed EASTBIO application form

-         2 References (to be completed on the EASTBIO Reference Form, also found on the EASTBIO website)

-         Academic Qualifications

-         English Language Qualification (if applicable)

Unfortunately due to workload constraints, we cannot consider incomplete applications. Please make sure your application is complete by 17 ^th January 2025

CONTACT

Queries on the project can be directed to the project supervisor.

Queries on the application process can be directed to Rachel Horn at [email protected]

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