Transgenic animal models for diagnosis of Disease: A hypothesis

•Introduction of transgenic animals with enhanced olfactory receptor cells for disease discrimination.•Addresses challenges with ELISA and nucleic acid-based amplification assays.•Builds on the case of Joy Milne, who detected Parkinson’s disease through scent, offering scientific precedent for olfactory-based diagnosis.•Transgenic animals could revolutionize diagnostics by reducing the limit of detection.•Promises improved prognosis and treatment outcomes. This paper introduces a novel diagnostic approach for disease discrimination through the development of transgenic animals with highly sensitive olfactory receptor cells. Traditional diagnostic methods, such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and nucleic acid-based amplification assay, face challenges related to false positives/negatives, limited sensitivity, or complex and costly procedures. Building on the advances in olfaction understanding and the documented ability of individuals and animals to detect diseases through scent, we propose a paradigm shift in disease diagnosis. The paper highlights the remarkable case of Joy Milne, who identified a distinct odor associated with Parkinson’s disease, leading to subsequent scientific validation. Building upon such research, we hypothesize that transgenic animals, engineered for heightened olfactory capabilities, could revolutionize disease diagnosis. The molecular recognition process and specificity of olfactory receptor cells are explored to elucidate the potential of transgenic animals in reducing the detection limit in diagnostics. Creating genetically modified animals with overexpressed olfactory receptors holds promise for early disease detection, improving prognosis and treatment outcomes. This innovative approach may significantly impact the core principles of illness diagnosis, opening up new perspectives for research and application in the field of disease diagnosis and treatment strategies.