Wei Li

Metabolic Intervention with Dimethyl Malonate Impairs Phagocytic Clearance but Fails to Protect Neurons

This study tests if inhibiting succinate oxidation with dimethyl malonate protects neurons after optic nerve injury but finds it impairs phagocytosis and fails to reduce inflammation.

Non-synaptic Mechanism of Ocular Dominance Plasticity

This paper investigates a non-synaptic mechanism of ocular dominance plasticity in adult mice, showing that visual disruption alters spike time arrival and myelin morphology.

DLK-dependent axonal mitochondrial fission drives degeneration following axotomy

This study develops a human iPSC model of axonal degeneration, identifies DLK-dependent mitochondrial fission as a key mechanism, and shows CRISPR-mediated Drp1 depletion protects neurons from degeneration.

Human iPSC-derived Microglial Cells Integrated into Mouse Retina and Recapitulated Features of Endogenous Microglia

This study demonstrates the successful integration and function of human iPSC-derived microglia in the mouse retina, mimicking endogenous microglial behavior and suggesting therapeutic potential for retinal diseases.

Evolution of neuronal cell classes and types in the vertebrate retina

The paper integrates single-cell transcriptomic data from 17 vertebrate species to study the evolution of retinal cell types, finding conserved cell classes and subclasses with variation increasing from outer to inner retina.

Neurexin 3 is Essential for the Specific Wiring of a Color Pathway in the Mammalian Retina

The paper identifies Nrxn3 as essential for S-cone to SCBC synapse specificity in the mammalian retina using ground squirrel transcriptomes and transgenic mouse models.

Identification of transcription factors involved in the specification of photoreceptor subtypes

The paper identifies transcription factors critical for photoreceptor subtype specification using transcriptomic profiling and CRISPR screening in zebrafish.

Analysis of Rod/Cone Gap Junctions from the Reconstruction of Mouse Photoreceptor Terminals

The paper reconstructs mouse photoreceptor terminals to analyze rod/cone gap junctions, finding they account for nearly all photoreceptor connections and are modulated by dopamine.

Cold protection allows local cryotherapy in a clinical-relevant model of traumatic optic neuropathy

This paper develops a cold-protective treatment for traumatic optic neuropathy using a clinically relevant animal model, showing that combined hypothermia and cold protection reduces inflammation and metabolic stress without cellular damage.

Cone mitochondria act as microlenses to enhance light delivery and confer Stiles-Crawford-like direction sensitivity

This study shows cone mitochondria act as microlenses to focus light into the cone outer segment, producing an angular light intensity effect similar to the Stiles-Crawford effect.