Zhilei Zhao

The paper shows budgerigar parrots use mixed vocal-gestural neural signals for learned communication, with single neurons representing both song and headbob gestures.

The paper identifies a sparse neural code in parrots that enables flexible vocal combinations similar to human speech phonemes.

The paper analyzes the transcriptomes of dengue mosquito neurons to show that olfactory receptors are coexpressed within families but not across families, revealing evolutionary patterns in olfactory systems.

The paper investigates the role of the anterior forebrain pathway (AFP) in parrots' vocal learning, finding that its inactivation disrupts the production of learned vocalizations with individual signatures, unlike songbirds.

The paper develops two pan-neuronal genetic drivers in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes using CRISPR/Cas9, enabling broad neuronal manipulation and labeling with minimal behavioral impact.

The paper shows that human odour activates unique combinations of olfactory glomeruli in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, with a specific glomerulus tuned to long-chain aldehydes found in human skin lipids.

The paper identifies specialized stylet neurons in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that detect blood over nectar, enabling distinct feeding programs for reproduction and survival.

The paper presents an improved Aedes aegypti genome assembly, AaegL5, which enhances biological understanding and vector control efforts by resolving key genomic features and identifying new targets for intervention.