Utilizing a Drosophila Larval Model of Synucleopathy to Explore Mushroom Extract Treatments for Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by dopaminergic neuron loss and progressive motor dysfunction. Here, we incorporated a Drosophila larval model of α-synucleinopathy into a course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) to investigate the effects of mushroom extract supplementation on locomotor dysfunction. Larvae expressing human A53T α-synuclein in dopaminergic neurons exhibited impaired Ring Maze performance. Dietary supplementation with Lion's mane ( Hericium erinaceus ) improved overall Ring Maze performance in A53T larvae; however, Lion's mane also enhanced performance in TH-Gal4 controls, suggesting a broader locomotor-enhancing effect rather than an A53T-specific rescue. In contrast, vitamin C improved performance in A53T larvae without a detectable beneficial effect in controls. Turkey tail ( Trametes versicolor ) and Chaga ( Inonotus obliquus ) did not consistently improve A53T performance. These findings identify Lion's mane as an interesting candidate for further study while demonstrating the utility of the Ring Maze for undergraduate investigation of neurodegenerative disease models and treatment effects.