Aplicações translacionais de Drosophila melanogaster em neurociência: mecanismos moleculares, modelos de doenças e investigação terapêutica

Abstract

This thesis investigated the translational applications of Drosophila melanogaster in neuroscience through studies focused on neurodegeneration and nociception. In the first study, metabolic and peptide fractions derived from kefir were evaluated in amyloidogenic models of Alzheimer’s disease in D. melanogaster and in cell culture. The biomolecules were investigated using biochemical, in vitro, and in vivo approaches. The results demonstrated the neuroprotective potential of the kefir-derived fractions, including attenuation of neurodegenerative phenotypes, improvement of oxidative parameters, and reduction of neurodegeneration-associated alterations in the experimental models. In the second study, a voltage-gated sodium channel mutant model in D. melanogaster was validated as an experimental tool for investigating mechanisms related to nociception and chronic pain. Using this model, the modulatory potential of cannabidiol (CBD) on nociceptive parameters and conserved neural pathways associated with pain signaling was evaluated. Collectively, the findings reinforce the translational relevance of D. melanogaster as a model organism in neuroscience, highlighting its applicability in the investigation of conserved molecular mechanisms, the experimental modeling of neurological diseases, and the prospecting of therapeutic strategies with neuroprotective and analgesic potential.