Melanie Maya Kaelberer

The paper introduces the Crunchometer, an open-source acoustic system for high-resolution feeding analysis, and shows it detects changes in feeding behavior and identifies meal-related neurons in mice.

This study uses spatial transcriptomics to map gene expression patterns of gut sensory cells, revealing regional differences in hormone, neurotransmission, immune, and nutrient sensing genes along the gastrointestinal tract.

The paper shows that neuropod cells in the gut detect caloric sugars via SGLT1 or sweet taste receptors, guiding sugar preference by signaling the brain through glutamate release.

The paper identifies a unique transcriptional signature in airway-innervating JNC neurons after LPS-induced lung inflammation, revealing their distinct response to injury.