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Summary of our research
An international research team led by Dr. Yasuhito Shimada (Lecturer, Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University), in collaboration with institutions in Japan, Indonesia, and Austria, has successfully decoded the genome of Garra rufa--commonly known as the "doctor fish"--at the chromosome level for the first time in the world. G. rufa is a freshwater fish capable of surviving in environments above 37°C and is gaining attention as a potential model organism for studying human diseases, including cancer xenografts and infectious diseases under high-temperature conditions.
The study revealed that the genome of G. rufa is approximately 1.38 gigabases (Gb) in size and consists of 25 chromosomes. Furthermore, researchers identified the genomic locations of genes related to heat shock proteins (HSPs) and heat shock factors (HSFs), which are essential for high-temperature tolerance. This genomic information provides a critical foundation for developing G. rufa as a novel experimental model in biomedical research.
Additionally, the availability of this high-quality genome will allow comparative genomic analyses with established model organisms such as zebrafish, expanding the possibilities for functional gene analysis and genome editing applications. The genome of G. rufa opens new avenues for the development of human disease models, particularly in oncology and infectious disease research, under physiologically relevant thermal conditions.
This work was published online in the Scientific Data on May 9th, 2025.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41597-025-05101-w
Researcher information
Yasuhito Shimada
Lecturer, Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University
Representative, Mie University Zebrafish Research Center
Specialized area：
Integrative Pharmacology; Drug discovery and disease modeling using zebrafish
Current research field：
・Development of disease models using zebrafish
・Drug discovery research using natural compounds
・Establishment of human disease models using the high-temperature-resistant fish Garra rufa