Optimized cell transplantation using adult rag2 mutant zebrafish.

Cell transplantation into adult zebrafish has lagged behind mouse models owing to the lack of immunocompromised strains. Here we have created rag2(E450fs) mutant zebrafish that have reduced numbers of functional T and B cells but are viable and fecund. Mutant fish engraft muscle, blood stem cells and various cancers. rag2(E450fs) mutant zebrafish are the first immunocompromised zebrafish model that permits robust, long-term engraftment of multiple tissues and cancer.