Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research

Divergent neural circuits for proprioceptive and exteroceptive sensing of the Drosophila leg

The paper identifies distinct neural circuits in Drosophila for proprioceptive and exteroceptive sensing of the leg using connectomics.

Behaviors resulting from the activation of single olfactory receptor neuron class depends on multiple second-order neuron types

This study shows that aversive behavior from Or7a-ORN activation depends on multiple second-order neuron types, specifically DL5PNs, which modulate the frequency of returning to the stimulated area.

The first complete 3D reconstruction and morphofunctional mapping of an insect eye

The paper presents the first 3D reconstruction of an insect compound eye using vEM, revealing cellular structure and specialized photoreceptors in the parasitoid wasp Megaphragma viggianii.

Neuronal correlates of sleep in honey bees

This study identifies neuronal activity patterns during rest in honey bees that resemble sleep signatures in vertebrates, revealing conserved network modulation mechanisms.

Antagonist actions of CMK-1/CaMKI and TAX-6/Calcineurin along the C. elegans thermal avoidance circuit orchestrate adaptation of nociceptive response to repeated stimuli

This study identifies CMK-1 and TAX-6/CnA as antagonistic regulators of thermo-nociceptive adaptation in C. elegans, acting in distinct neurons to modulate noxious heat avoidance behaviors.

Passive muscle forces in Drosophila are large but insufficient to support a flys weight

The paper measures passive torques in Drosophila leg joints and finds they are large but insufficient to support the fly's weight.

Olfactory projection neuron rewiring in the brain of an ecological specialist

The paper compares olfactory projection neuron rewiring in Drosophila sechellia and Drosophila melanogaster to show how central brain wiring changes support ecological specialization.

The Innexin 7 gap junction protein contributes to synchronized activity in the Drosophila antennal lobe and regulates olfactory function

This study shows that Inx7 gap junctions synchronize antennal lobe projection neurons and are essential for olfactory function in Drosophila.

The co-receptors Orco and Ir8a are required for coordinated expression of chemosensory genes in the antennae of the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti.

The paper investigates the role of co-receptors Orco and Ir8a in coordinating chemosensory gene expression in Aedes aegypti antennae through RNAseq and differential expression analysis.

The C. elegans gustatory receptor homolog LITE-1 is a chemoreceptor required for diacetyl avoidance

This study identifies LITE-1 as a chemoreceptor in C. elegans that mediates both blue light and diacetyl avoidance behaviors.

Cholesterol taste avoidance in Drosophila melanogaster

This study shows that Drosophila melanogaster can taste cholesterol, with detection mediated by specific gustatory receptor neurons and ionotropic receptors.

Control of odor sensation by light and cryptochrome in the Drosophila antenna

This study shows that light and cryptochrome modulate odor aversion in Drosophila by affecting TRPA1 channel activity through reactive oxygen species.

Cell type-specific driver lines targeting the Drosophila central complex and their use to investigate neuropeptide expression and sleep regulation

The paper generates and characterizes split-GAL4 driver lines for specific Drosophila central complex cell types, surveys neuropeptide and receptor expression, and identifies cell types involved in sleep regulation.

TRPg regulates lipid metabolism through Dh44 neuroendocrine cells

This study identifies TRPγ's role in lipid metabolism via Dh44 neurons in Drosophila, showing reduced lipolysis and elevated TAG levels in mutants.

Neurons and molecules involved in noxious light sensation in Caenorhabditis elegans

The paper identifies neurons and molecular mechanisms involved in noxious light sensation in C. elegans, showing AVG as a key neuron for escape behavior and the role of NLP-10 in maintaining responsiveness.

An enteric neuron-expressed variant ionotropic receptor detects ingested salts to regulate salt stress resistance

This study identifies a variant ionotropic receptor in C. elegans enteric neurons that detects ingested salts and regulates salt stress resistance.

Plasticity in inhibitory networks improves pattern separation in early olfactory processing

The paper investigates how inhibitory plasticity in the honeybee antennal lobe improves pattern separation during odor learning by suppressing shared compounds and enhancing distinct ones.

The fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, as a micro-robotics platform.

This paper uses fruit flies to demonstrate micro-robotic capabilities through optogenetic and visual guidance, enabling controlled movement and object manipulation.

Mechanical and morphological features of the cockroach antenna confer flexibility, reveal a kinematic chain system and predict strain information for proprioception

The paper investigates the mechanical and morphological features of the American cockroach antenna to understand how they enable flexibility and proprioception through a kinematic chain system.

Transmembrane channel-like proteins regulate crop size and contraction dynamics during Drosophila feeding

This study identifies TMC proteins as regulators of crop size and contraction in Drosophila through distinct neuronal pathways involving diuretic hormone and serotonin receptors.

Nonlinear integration of sensory and motor inputs by a single neuron in C. elegans.

The paper shows that a single neuron in C. elegans integrates sensory and motor inputs nonlinearly, with sensory responses dependent on motor input dynamics.

Dilp8 relaxin signaling from ovarian follicle cells to Lgr3+ neurons promotes spontaneous ovulation and oocyte quality in Drosophila

A heart releasing neuropeptide that synchronizes brain-heart regulation during courtship behavior

The paper identifies a brain-heart axis that regulates mating states through neuropeptides in flies and mice, and develops a computational framework to decode these states from cardiac physiology.

Intestinal control of feeding initiation in Drosophila melanogaster

This study shows that in Drosophila, feeding initiation depends on partial meconium excretion, revealing a gut-to-brain signaling circuit linking intestinal clearance and feeding behavior.

Connectome-driven neural inventory of a complete visual system

A FIB-SEM connectome of the male Drosophila right optic lobe sorts ∼53,000 neurons into 727 types, with neurotransmitter predictions and 577 matched split-GAL4 lines.

Evolution of sensory systems underlies the emergence of predatory feeding behaviours in nematodes

The paper identifies sensory adaptations in Pristionchus pacificus that enable predatory feeding behaviors through mechanosensory and chemosensory system co-option.

Neural Basis of Odometry in Drosophila

This study identifies a neural pathway in Drosophila that integrates self-motion for distance estimation.

HLH-3 Is Required for the Maturation of Neurons Necessary for Male Specific Exploration Behavior

This study shows that hlh-3 expression is sexually dimorphic in C. elegans males and is required for the maturation of neurons involved in male-specific exploration behavior.

Neural drift during rest drives walking direction and memory consolidation in Drosophila

The paper shows that neural drift during rest in Drosophila influences walking direction and memory consolidation through reactivation of walking directions.

Serotonergic signaling governs C. elegans sensory response to conflicting olfactory stimuli

The paper identifies a serotonergic neural circuit in C. elegans that suppresses aversive responses to conflicting olfactory stimuli by inhibiting aversive signals.