Heath E. Johnson

Microbiome-host interactions drive a trade-off between sleep quality and lifespan in Drosophila

This study shows that microbiome-host interactions in Drosophila create a trade-off between sleep quality and lifespan through specific bacterial metabolites and host responses.

Optogenetic construction of de novo integrin-adhesion complexes reveals role for biocondensation in adhesion nucleation

This paper uses optogenetics to test how talin's activity and phase states influence integrin-adhesion complex (IAC) nucleation and stabilization, finding that biocondensation enables adhesion formation even without extracellular matrix.

Dynamics of an incoherent feedforward loop drive ERK-dependent pattern formation in the early Drosophila embryo

The paper investigates how ERK signaling and an incoherent feedforward loop regulate byn stripe formation in Drosophila embryos using optogenetics and live-cell biosensors.

Optogenetic rescue of a developmental patterning mutant

The paper uses optogenetics to rescue a developmental mutant by applying light-based signaling patterns, revealing distinct developmental programs triggered by varying Erk doses.

Signaling dynamics control cell fate in the early Drosophila embryo

The paper shows that Erk signaling dose, not duration, determines cell fate in early Drosophila embryos through optogenetic control and genetic perturbations.