Banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO: ROMÉRIO DE OLIVEIRA LIMA FILHO

BIOINDICATORS OF FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDER: HOW CAN ZEBRAFISH HELP?

alcohol, cognition, fasd,zebrafish

Recent reports from the World Health Organization estimate that 5 to 11% of the global population suffer from conditions derived from fetal alcohol exposure. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a condition resulting from alcohol exposure during the intrauterine period. This condition is considered a public health problem and can cause a range of severe and irreversible physical, mental, and behavioral deficiencies. The term FASD encompasses different levels of fetal impairment, from malformations and neurological and developmental disorders categorized as Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), to milder effects such as intellectual and behavioral deficits. While the diagnosis of severe cases is relatively straightforward due to facial abnormalities, diagnosing other cases is complex and requires detailed medical evaluation. Currently, a crucial element in reaching a diagnosis is maternal disclosure of alcohol consumption during pregnancy, which makes it even more challenging, as many women feel ashamed of having consumed alcohol, or may not remember or realize they were pregnant when they had episodes of alcohol intake. Thus, the lack of data compromises diagnosis, which is often mistaken due to overlap with other medical conditions such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). In this regard, studies using animal models are important as they help us search for more precise biomarkers for diagnosis. To study the effects of alcohol, several laboratories conduct research using the zebrafish - a popular animal model for translational research. This model offers the possibility of translational conclusions as it possesses biochemical pathways that have been evolutionarily conserved in humans, making it suitable for studying conditions imposed by alcohol use. Therefore, this proposal aims to seek molecular and behavioral biomarkers that can assist in a more accurate diagnosis of FASD.