BARI member Param Priya Singh has launched Killiverse, a new interactive, browser-based platform designed to accelerate discovery using killifish as model organisms.
Killifish, particularly the African turquoise killifish (Nothobranchius furzeri) have emerged as powerful vertebrate models and are one of the shortest-lived vertebrates that can be maintained in the laboratory, with adults living just a few months. Many killifish species can also enter embryonic diapause – a remarkable reversible developmental arrest that allows embryos to survive prolonged drug periods in a state of suspended animation. These traits, along with strong regenerative abilities, make killifish excellent systems for investigating the molecular mechanisms of aging, lifespan regulation, development, stress resistance, and environmental adaptation.
As research in these systems has expanded, so has the volume of multi-omics datasets. However, these data have remained scattered across individual studies and repositories, complicating efforts to explore, compare, and build upon existing findings.
Killiverse addresses this challenge by aggregating datasets across studies and species into a unified, user-friendly environment. Researchers can explore and compare data through interactive visualizations, integrated ortholog mapping, and downloadable resources, all directly in the browser. The platform is actively expanding with new datasets and features.
Details of the platform are described in a recent preprint, “Killiverse: an interactive multi-omics web resource for killifish.” Singh, whose lab focuses on the genomic basis of extreme survival strategies and longevity using killifish models, developed Killiverse to support the growing community of scientist working in aging, developmental biology, and comparative genomics. Killiverse promises to streamline research and spark new collaborations across the killifish community, making it a valuable resource for the field.