Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research

Drosophila Video-assisted Activity Monitor (DrosoVAM): a versatile method for behavior monitoring

The paper introduces DrosoVAM, a cost-effective and versatile system for monitoring Drosophila behavior using video and deep learning, improving upon traditional infrared beam methods.

Keeping an Eye on Plasticity Genes: Insulin/TOR Pathway Components Mediating Nutritional Plasticity of Eyes Within and Between Sex

This study identifies Insulin/TOR pathway components that modulate sex-specific nutritional plasticity in Drosophila eye size and scaling.

Atypical developmental remodeling of dopamine neurons involves AKT-GSK3β signaling and glia activity

The paper identifies an atypical axon overgrowth followed by pruning in Drosophila dopamine neurons, involving AKT-GSK3β signaling and glia activity, distinct from canonical developmental remodeling.

Using a female-specific isoform of doublesex to explore male-specific hearing in mosquitoes

The paper investigates sex-specific hearing in mosquitoes by analyzing the role of a female-specific isoform of the doublesex gene and its impact on auditory function.

A neural network model that generates salt concentration memory-dependent chemotaxis in Caenorhabditis elegans

The paper develops a neural network model to explain how C. elegans exhibits salt concentration memory-dependent chemotaxis through ASER-AIY synaptic dynamics.

Learning to avoid collisions: Bees use cues perceived before and after a collision to prevent negative consequences during navigation in cluttered areas

This study shows bumblebees can associate visual cues with collision experiences, avoiding high-risk areas based on cues before or after collisions.

Extinction of innate floral preferences in the pollinator Eristalis tenax

This study shows that hoverflies can extinguish innate floral preferences through aversive conditioning and acquire new preferences through appetitive training, with aversive memories lasting longer.

Adaptation invariant concentration discrimination in an insect olfactory system

The paper investigates how locusts maintain odor intensity information despite neural adaptation in their olfactory system.

From Sensory Detection to Motor Action: The Comprehensive Drosophila Taste-Feeding Connectome

This paper maps the complete Drosophila male gustatory system connectome, revealing GRN diversity and sensory-to-motor pathways for feeding and social behaviors.

The Oviposition Inhibitory Neuron is a potential hub of multi-circuit integration in the Drosophila brain

The paper identifies the Oviposition Inhibitory Neuron as a hub in the Drosophila oviposition circuit by analyzing its inputs using network analysis and graph theory.

Effects of tachykinin-related peptides on the reproductive system of Tenebrio molitor females: implications for insect breeding and pest control

This study investigates the role of tachykinin-related peptides (TRPs) in female Tenebrio molitor reproduction and shows their potential as targets for insect farming and pest control.

Connectomics Reveals a Feed-Forward Swallowing Circuit Driving Protein Appetite

The paper identifies a feed-forward swallowing circuit in Drosophila that links protein deprivation to prolonged feeding bursts by coordinating swallowing motor neurons through a Sustain neuron.

The SWI/SNF complex sub-unit Bap60 is required for training-induced gene transcription during long-term memory formation

This paper shows that Bap60, a SWI/SNF complex subunit in Drosophila, is essential for long-term memory (LTM) gene transcription but not short-term memory, acting downstream of immediate early genes.

Corneal lens curvature depends on localized chitin secretion

The paper shows that localized chitin secretion by specific cells determines the curvature of the Drosophila corneal lens.

Seizures in a Bang-Sensitive Epilepsy Model Impact Associative Learning in Drosophila Larvae

This study investigates whether seizures in Drosophila parabss mutants disrupt associative learning, finding that seizures impair learning but mutants perform similarly to wildtype otherwise.

Controlling malaria mosquito reproduction via the octopamine beta2 receptor

This study identifies the octopamine beta2 receptor as a target to disrupt mosquito reproduction but shows that amitraz, an agonist, is ineffective as a mating disruptor.

Evidence of Escherichia coli Regulating Drosophila melanogaster Behavior

This paper shows that Escherichia coli alters chemosensory behaviors in Drosophila melanogaster, with effects mediated by the IR25a receptor.

Characterization Eclosion Hormone Receptor function reveals differential hormonal control of ecdysis during Drosophila development.

This study identifies CG10738 as the Drosophila EHR, showing its role in ecdysis and its expression in ETH-producing cells and other neuronal targets.

Serotonin selectively modulates visual responses of object motion detectors in Drosophila

This study shows serotonin selectively enhances visual responses in specific Drosophila neurons without affecting others, highlighting its role in modulating object motion detection.

Octopamine and Tyramine Modulate Motor Program Competition in Drosophila larvae

This study investigates how octopamine and tyramine modulate competition between motor programs in Drosophila larvae, showing distinct effects on locomotion direction and motor program overlap.

High-pass noise suppression in the mosquito auditory system

This study identifies high-pass filters in mosquito auditory systems, showing sex-specific differences in noise suppression and suggesting their role in auditory function beyond mating.

A pair of dopaminergic neurons DAN-c1 mediate Drosophila larval aversive olfactory learning through D2-like receptors

This study identifies DAN-c1 neurons mediating aversive olfactory learning in Drosophila larvae via D2-like receptors, showing their inhibitory role and distinct contribution from mushroom body D2R expression.

Thermotaxis behavior of Drosophila melanogaster: A quantitative analysis of sensory-motor integration and heat avoidance

This study quantifies Drosophila thermotaxis behavior using a thermal arena and machine learning, revealing distinct roles of peripheral and internal thermoreceptors in navigation.

Harnessing Microbial Tools: Escherichia coli as a Vehicle for Neuropeptide Functional Analysis in Caenorhabditis elegans

The paper develops a method to functionally analyze individual neuropeptides in C. elegans by expressing active peptides in E. coli and feeding them to loss-of-function mutants.

The GABAA receptor RDL modulates the auditory sensitivity of malaria mosquitoes.

This study investigates the role of GABA and its receptor RDL in the auditory system of malaria mosquitoes, revealing mechanical and electrical effects on auditory sensitivity and mating behavior.

Investigation of the molecular-genetic basis for courtship differences between Drosophila melanogaster, Drosophila simulans and their hybrids

This study investigates the genetic and neural basis of courtship behavior differences between Drosophila melanogaster, D. simulans, and their hybrids, identifying conserved and species-specific molecular mechanisms.

Polyadic synapses introduce unique wiring architectures in T5 cells of Drosophila

The paper identifies eight polyadic synapse types on T5a dendrites in Drosophila and shows they create directional wiring architectures in the T5 network.

Odors drive feeding through gustatory receptor neurons in Drosophila

This study shows that odors activate gustatory receptor neurons in Drosophila, triggering feeding behaviors and enhancing food intake through a mechanism involving the Gr5a receptor and olfactory binding proteins.

Dopaminergic Modulation of Short-Term Associative Memory in Caenorhabditis elegans

This study investigates dopamine's role in forgetting in C. elegans, showing that dopamine-deficient mutants have enhanced learning and that DOP-2 and DOP-3 receptors modulate forgetting.

Track-A-Worm 2.0: A Software Suite for Quantifying Properties of C. elegans Locomotion, Bending, Sleep, and Action Potentials

Track-A-Worm 2.0 provides tools for analyzing locomotion, sleep, and action potentials in C. elegans, improving upon existing methods with specialized features.