FishNET: An automated relational database for zebrafish colony management

The zebrafish Danio rerio is a powerful model system to study the genetics of development and disease. However, maintenance of zebrafish husbandry records is both time intensive and laborious, and a standardized way to manage and track the large amount of unique lines in a given laboratory or centralized facility has not been embraced by the field. Here, we present FishNET, an intuitive, open-source, relational database for managing data and information related to zebrafish husbandry and maintenance. By creating a “virtual facility,” FishNET enables users to remotely inspect the rooms, racks, tanks, and lines within a given facility. Importantly, FishNET scales from one laboratory to an entire facility with several laboratories to multiple facilities, generating a cohesive laboratory and community-based platform. Automated data entry eliminates confusion regarding line nomenclature and streamlines maintenance of individual lines, while flexible query forms allow researchers to retrieve database records based on user-defined criteria. FishNET also links associated embryonic and adult biological samples with data, such as genotyping results or confocal images, to enable robust and efficient colony management and storage of laboratory information. A shared calendar function with email notifications and automated reminders for line turnover, automated tank counts, and census reports promote communication with both end users and administrators. The expected benefits of FishNET are improved vivaria efficiency, increased quality control for experimental numbers, and flexible data reporting and retrieval. FishNET’s easy, intuitive record management and open-source, end-user–modifiable architecture provides an efficient solution to real-time zebrafish colony management for users throughout a facility and institution and, in some cases, across entire research hubs.

斑马鱼（Danio rerio）是研究发育与疾病遗传学的经典模型系统。然而，斑马鱼饲养记录的维护既耗时又费力，且目前学界尚未普遍采用能够在单个实验室或集中式设施中管理、追踪大量独特品系的标准化方案。为此，我们推出FishNET——一款用于管理斑马鱼饲养与维护相关数据及信息的直观开源关系型数据库。通过构建"虚拟设施"，FishNET允许用户远程查看指定设施内的饲养间、货架、水槽及品系信息。值得注意的是，FishNET可从单个实验室扩展至多实验室组成的完整设施，乃至多个设施集群，打造出兼具实验室专属与社区共享属性的一体化平台。自动化数据录入可消除品系命名相关的混淆，简化单一品系的维护流程；而灵活的查询表单则支持研究人员基于自定义条件检索数据库记录。FishNET还可将相关胚胎与成体生物样本与基因型检测结果、共聚焦图像（confocal images）等数据进行关联，以实现高效稳健的种群管理及实验室信息存储。带有邮件通知功能的共享日历及自动提醒模块，可针对品系轮换、自动化水槽计数及种群普查报告发送提醒，助力终端用户与管理人员之间的沟通协作。FishNET的预期收益包括提升饲养设施运营效率、优化实验用鱼数量的质量管控，以及实现灵活的数据报告与检索功能。FishNET凭借其简洁直观的记录管理功能，以及开源且支持终端用户自定义修改的架构，可为单个设施、机构乃至部分跨区域研究枢纽内的用户提供实时斑马鱼种群管理的高效解决方案。