Alejandro Sánchez Alvarado

Major cell type differences between larval and adult hemichordate body plans

The paper examines cellular changes during metamorphosis in hemichordates using single-cell RNA sequencing, revealing distinct transcriptional programs between larval and adult stages.

A new genetically tractable non-vertebrate system to study complete camera-type eye regeneration

This paper identifies the apple snail Pomacea canaliculata as a new model for studying camera-type eye regeneration, showing its ability to regenerate complete eyes and the role of pax6 in eye development.

Positional information modulates transient regeneration-activated cell states during vertebrate appendage regeneration.

The paper shows that amputation position affects tissue proliferation during regeneration by activating position-specific cell states that modulate ECM remodeling.

Identification of protein aggregates in the aging vertebrate brain with prion-like andphase separation properties

The paper identifies prion-like and phase-separated protein aggregates in aging vertebrate brains using quantitative proteomics in killifish and validates their propagation and functional properties.

Chromatin remodeling protein BPTF regulates transcriptional stability in planarian stem cells

This study investigates the role of BPTF in regulating chromatin accessibility and transcription in planarian stem cells, showing its importance in gene expression and stem cell function.

A PAK kinase family member and the Hippo/Yorkie pathway modulate WNT signaling to functionally integrate body axes during regeneration

This study identifies a role for smed-pak1 and the Hippo/Yorkie pathway in integrating anterior-posterior and medio-lateral body axes during planarian regeneration.

Molecular characterization of a flatworm Girardia isolate from Guanajuato, Mexico

This paper characterizes a new planarian isolate, Girardia sp. (Guanajuato), at morphological, cellular, and molecular levels to identify unique traits and facilitate future comparisons.

Syrah, a Slide-seqV2 pipeline augmentation

Syrah improves Slide-seqV2 data quality and quantity by correcting physical and computational errors in the analysis pipeline.

Planarians employ diverse and dynamic stem cell microenvironments to support whole-body regeneration

The paper identifies dynamic stem cell microenvironments in planarians that support regeneration by associating with diverse cell types.

Hox genes regulate asexual reproductive behavior and tissue segmentation in adult animals

This study identifies Hox gene functions in adult tissue segmentation and asexual reproduction in planarians, showing distinct roles for hox3 and post2b.

A powerful and versatile new fixation protocol for immunohistology and in situ hybridization that preserves delicate tissues in planaria

The paper introduces a new fixation protocol for immunohistology and in situ hybridization in planarians that preserves tissue structure and allows for successful signal development.

The Planarian Anatomy Ontology: A resource to connect data within and across experimental platforms

The paper constructs a planarian anatomy ontology to standardize nomenclature and enable cross-platform data integration and curation.

Island-specific evolution of a sex-primed autosome in the planarian Schmidtea mediterranea

The paper identifies chromosome 1 in Schmidtea mediterranea as a sex-primed autosome through genomic analysis showing restricted recombination and sex-specific gene expression.

Decellularization enables functional analysis of ECM remodeling in planarian regeneration

This study uses decellularization, proteomics, and RNAi in planarians to identify ECM components essential for tissue homeostasis and regeneration.

CRISPR-Cas13d induces efficient mRNA knock-down in animal embryos

This study demonstrates that CRISPR-Cas13d efficiently knocks down specific mRNAs in zebrafish, medaka, killifish, and mouse embryos, leading to significant transcript level reduction and embryonic phenotypes.

Identification of rare transient somatic cell states induced by injury and required for whole-body regeneration

Efficient depletion of ribosomal RNA for RNA sequencing in planarians

This paper describes a method for efficiently depleting ribosomal RNA from planarian and bacterial RNA samples, improving transcriptome coverage and dynamics.

A nuclear hormone receptor and lipid metabolism axis are required for the maintenance and regeneration of reproductive organs

The paper identifies a nuclear hormone receptor and lipid metabolism axis critical for reproductive organ maintenance and regeneration in planarians.

An adaptable chromosome preparation methodology for use in invertebrate research organisms

This paper develops a simple and adaptable chromosome preparation protocol for invertebrates, enabling karyotyping and downstream applications in species lacking cell lines.

Cellular, ultrastructural and molecular analyses of epidermal cell development in the planarian Schmidtea mediterranea

The paper identifies transcriptional regulators of epidermal lineage differentiation in planarians and discovers novel secreted organelles.

PHRED-1 Is A Divergent Neurexin-1 Homolog That Organizes Muscle Fibers And Patterns Organs During Regeneration

This study identifies PHRED-1 as a gene essential for muscle regeneration and organ patterning in planarians, showing its role in structural integrity and intestinal branching.