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Fishing for Cures
27 June 2018

Fishing for Cures

Some antibiotics and chemotherapy agents can damage hair cells in our inner ear, causing irreversible loss of hearing – a phenomenon known as ototoxicity. Searching for a solution, scientists used micro-array plates filled with young zebrafish (pictured), to test the potential of 11,000 different compounds to counter ototoxicity. Neuromasts, cells responsible for the fishes’ perception of movement in water, are similar to our hair cells, so their response to chemicals is a good indication of possible impacts on hearing. Thanks to a fluorescent dye that illuminates live neuromasts, the researchers could identify compounds that protected these cells from destruction by antibiotics. Having found a molecule with the desired effect, they recently tested a further 400 similar compounds to identify an even more promising candidate, better-suited to use as a pharmaceutical drug. Successful development could encourage a wider use of certain antibiotics that are currently avoided due to the risk of hearing loss.

Written by Emmanuelle Briolat

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BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

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