Jef Swerts

Soma-centered control of synaptic autophagy by Rab39-regulated anterograde trafficking of Atg9

This study identifies Rab39 as a regulator of autophagy at presynaptic terminals in Drosophila, showing its role in trafficking Atg9 vesicles and its link to neurodegeneration.

Synaptic deregulation of cholinergic projection neurons causes olfactory dysfunction across 5 fly Parkinsonism models

The paper identifies synaptic dysfunction in cholinergic projection neurons as an early indicator of Parkinsonism across multiple fly models and links it to olfactory dysfunction and dopaminergic decline.

Neuronal autophagosomes are transported to astrocytes for degradation

The paper identifies a novel pathway where astrocytes clear pre-synaptic autophagosomes from neurons through a cholesterol-dependent endocytosis process without requiring direct cell contact or retrograde transport.

Neuronal identity defines a-synuclein and tau toxicity

The paper identifies molecular signatures of neuronal vulnerability to α-synuclein and tau toxicity, showing differential susceptibility independent of expression levels.

EndophilinA-dependent coupling between activity-dependent calcium influx and synaptic autophagy is disrupted by a Parkinson-risk mutation

The paper shows how EndophilinA couples calcium influx to synaptic autophagy and identifies a Parkinson-risk mutation that disrupts this process.