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Updated: Apr 16, 2026
Zebrafish Corneal Wound Healing: From Abrasion to Wound Closure Imaging Analysis
Published on: March 1, 2022
Real-time characterisation of microbe-induced inflammation using a novel zebrafish larval corneal injury and
Kelvin K W Cheng1, Carl S Tucker2, Justyna Cholewa-Waclaw3
1Centre for Inflammation Research, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK. kcheng@ed.ac.uk.
Abstract:
Microbial keratitis (MK) is a major global cause of blindness. Yet, treatment is heavily dependent on antimicrobials with limited options for immunomodulators - despite the critical role of dysregulated immune responses in disease pathogenesis. This gap reflects a critical unmet clinical need and is compounded by the lack of model systems capable of real-time high-resolution immune dynamics analysis. To address this, we developed a zebrafish larvae MK model utilising transgenic zebrafish lines with fluorescently labelled neutrophils, macrophages and basal epithelial cells. Corneal injury triggered rapid immune cell recruitment which was amplified by exposure to pro-inflammatory mediators such as N-formylmethionine-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLF) and leukotriene B4 (LTB4). Infection with live bacteria induced robust, sustained neutrophil and macrophage recruitment, marked by increased neutrophil speed and migratory distance. This model enables dynamic in vivo visualization of immune cell dynamics, offering a powerful and scalable platform to accelerate the discovery and screening of novel immunomodulators for MK.
Insights
A new zebrafish model allows real-time observation of immune cell dynamics in microbial keratitis (MK). This powerful tool aids in discovering new immunomodulators to combat this leading cause of blindness.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Immunology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Microbial keratitis (MK) is a significant global cause of blindness.
- Current treatments for MK rely heavily on antimicrobials, with limited immunomodulatory options.
- Dysregulated immune responses play a critical role in MK pathogenesis, highlighting an unmet clinical need.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel zebrafish larvae model for studying microbial keratitis (MK).
- To enable real-time, high-resolution analysis of immune cell dynamics in vivo.
- To provide a platform for discovering and screening new immunomodulators for MK treatment.
Main Methods:
- Utilized transgenic zebrafish lines with fluorescently labeled neutrophils, macrophages, and basal epithelial cells.
- Induced corneal injury and infection with live bacteria in zebrafish larvae.
- Analyzed immune cell recruitment, speed, and migratory distance in response to injury and inflammatory mediators.
Main Results:
- Corneal injury rapidly triggered immune cell recruitment, amplified by pro-inflammatory mediators (fMLF, LTB4).
- Bacterial infection induced robust and sustained neutrophil and macrophage recruitment.
- Observed increased neutrophil speed and migratory distance during infection.
Conclusions:
- The developed zebrafish larvae MK model allows dynamic in vivo visualization of immune cell dynamics.
- This model offers a powerful and scalable platform for accelerating the discovery of novel immunomodulators for microbial keratitis.
- The study addresses a critical unmet need in MK treatment by providing advanced research capabilities.
