Marko Horb

Senior Scientist and NXR Director

Marko Horb Headshot
Contact Information
Education
Ph.D., Cellular and Developmental Biology, Stony Brook University, 1998
B.Sc., Cell and Structural Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, 1993
MBL Affiliation
Bell Center
Research Area
Cell Biology
Developmental Biology
Models of Human Disease
Regeneration
Lab Website
Horb Lab

The Horb lab is focused on generating Xenopus models of human disease using CRISPR-Cas. We work closely with Xenopus and non-Xenopus researchers to generate genetic knockouts of specific genes. As part of this project, visiting scientists can come for short- or long-term visits and work in the NXR with its staff on these various mutants. To date, we have generated over 175 mutants either in X. tropicalis or X. laevis. In addition, Dr. Horb is the Director of the National Xenopus Resource (NXR), which is the national stock center for X. laevis and X. tropicalis. The NXR is funded by an award from the National Institute of Health, Office of the Director, Office of Research Infrastructure Programs (ORIP) and from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD). The NXR provides a facility for breeding X. laevis and X. tropicalis, maintaining genetic stocks and providing stocks to researchers. The NXR also develops new experimental tools and husbandry techniques for the Xenopus research community. Lastly, the NXR serves as a training center for advanced technologies (e.g. husbandry, cell biology, imaging, genetics, transgenesis, genomics) through workshops and meetings.

News and Research Highlights
Selected Publications

Coppenrath K, Tavares A, Shaidani N, Wlizla M, Moody SA, Horb M. (2021) Generation of a new six1-null line in Xenopus tropicalis for study of development and congenital disease. Genesis e23453

Horb M, Wlizla M, Abu-Daya A, McNamara S, Gajdasik D, Igawa T, Suzuki A, Ogino H, Noble A; Centre de Ressource Biologique Xenope team in France, Robert J, James-Zorn C, Guille M. (2019) Xenopus resources: Transgenic, inbred, and mutant animals, training opportunities, and web-based support. Front Physiol. Apr 25;10:387. eCollection 2019. Review. PMCID: PMC6497014

McNamara S., Wlizla M., Horb M.E. (2018) Husbandry, General Care, and Transportation of Xenopus laevis and Xenopus tropicalis. Methods Mol Biol. 1865:1-17. PMCID: PMC6421069

Corkins, M.E., Hanania, H.L., Krneta-Stankic, V., DeLay, B.D., Pearl, E.J., Lee, M., Ji, H., Davidson, A.J., Horb, M.E. and Miller, R.K. (2018) Transgenic Xenopus laevis line for in vivo labeling of nephrons within the kidney. Genes 9, 197. (PMCID: PMC5924539)

Pearl E., Morrow S., Noble A., Lerebours A., Horb M., Guille M. (2017) An optimized method for cryogenic storage of Xenopus sperm to maximise the effectiveness of research using genetically altered frogs. Theriogenology. 92, 149-155. (PMCID: PMC5340284)

Ratzan, W., Falco, R., Salanga, C., Salanga, M. and Horb, M.E. (2017). Generation of a Xenopus laevis F1 albino J strain by genome editing and oocyte host transfer. Developmental Biology 426, 188-193 (PMC5025372)