Ambra Masuzzo

Temporal niche partitioning through olfactory cell type evolution

This study shows how Drosophila sechellia evolved a specialized olfactory receptor to detect ripe noni fruit, enabling temporal niche partitioning by reducing competition and parasitization.

Genome-wide association studies identify new candidate genes and tissues underlying resistance to a natural toxin in drosophilids

This study identifies new candidate genes and tissues associated with resistance to a natural toxin in Drosophila species through genome-wide association and transcriptome analyses.

Drosophila's sensory responses to bacterial peptidoglycan integrates positive and negative signals

This study shows that Drosophila integrates positive and negative signals from bacterial peptidoglycan (PGN) to make behavioral decisions.

Bacteria-derived peptidoglycan triggers an NF-kB dependent response in Drosophila gustatory neurons

The paper shows that Drosophila bitter taste neurons use the PGRP-LB receptor and NF-κB/IMD pathway to detect bacterial peptidoglycan and influence behavior.