Marine Invertebrate Physiology and Ecology

Comparative genomic analysis of Cristatella mucedo provides insights into Bryozoan evolution and nervous system function

The paper was withdrawn by the authors due to lack of full consent, and is not intended for citation.

From Single Neurons to Behavior in the Jellyfish Aurelia aurita

This paper develops a neuronal network model for the moon jelly Aurelia aurita to understand how neural activity controls its energy-efficient swimming behavior.

Prototypical pacemaker neurons are immunocompetent cells

The paper identifies and characterizes prototypical pacemaker neurons in Hydra that express immune-related genes and interact with the microbial environment.

Regeneration in the absence of a blastema requires cell division but is not tied to wound healing in the ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi

Stem cell differentiation trajectories in Hydra resolved at single-cell resolution

This study maps stem cell differentiation trajectories in Hydra using single-cell transcriptomics, revealing shared progenitor states for neurons and gland cells and creating a gene expression map of the nervous system.

Signaling via GABAB receptors regulates early development and neurogenesis in the basal metazoan Nematostella vectensis

This study identifies GABAB receptor homologs in Nematostella vectensis and shows that activating GABABR signaling inhibits neurogenesis and disrupts nervous system development.

The jellyfish genome sheds light on the early evolution of active predation

The paper analyzes the genome and transcriptomes of jellyfish to identify genetic adaptations related to active predation and body plan development.

Generic and context-dependent gene modulations during Hydra whole body regeneration

The paper compares apical and basal regeneration in Hydra, identifying gene modulations and signaling pathways involved in regeneration.

The draft genome of an octocoral, Dendronephthya gigantea

This paper presents the first genome assembly of the non-symbiotic octocoral Dendronephthya gigantea to aid in comparative genomic studies of cnidarians and explore genetic differences between soft and stony corals.

Integrative analysis of Hydra head regeneration reveals activation of distal enhancer-like elements

The paper identifies dynamic enhancer-like elements and transcription factor motifs involved in Hydra head regeneration, suggesting complex gene regulatory structures evolved before cnidarians and bilaterians diverged.

An evolutionary-conserved Wnt3/β-catenin/Sp5 feedback loop restricts head organizer activity in Hydra

The paper identifies Sp5 as a novel inhibitor of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in Hydra, revealing an evolutionary-conserved feedback loop that restricts head organizer activity.

Cadherin switch marks germ layer formation in the diploblastic sea anemone Nematostella vectensis

The paper shows that a cadherin switch accompanies germ layer formation in the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis, with cadherin1 and cadherin3 playing roles in tissue integrity and morphogenesis.

High cell diversity and complex peptidergic signalling underlie placozoan behaviour

This study identifies diverse peptidergic signaling in placozoans, revealing cell-type-specific neuropeptide expression and behavioral responses that suggest peptidergic signaling predates synapses in nervous system evolution.

The origin and evolution of acetylcholine signaling through AchRs in metazoans

This study investigates the evolution of acetylcholine signaling in Nematostella vectensis, showing neurotransmitter activity predates cnidarian-bilaterian divergence and muscle activation evolved later.

Glycosyltransferases promote development and prevent promiscuous cell aggregation in the choanoflagellate S. rosetta

The paper identifies glycosyltransferase mutations causing defective rosette development and promiscuous cell aggregation in S. rosetta, suggesting an ancient role in development and multicellularity regulation.

NvERTx: A gene expression database to compare Embryogenesis and Regeneration in the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis

NvERTx provides a gene expression database comparing embryogenesis and regeneration in Nematostella vectensis using RNA-seq data.

Microfluidics for Electrophysiology, Imaging, and Behavioral Analysis of Hydra

This paper introduces microfluidic devices for simultaneous electrical, chemical, and optical analysis of Hydra's neural activity and behavior.

Identification of jellyfish neuropeptides that act directly as oocyte maturation inducing hormones

The paper identifies neuropeptides in jellyfish that directly induce oocyte maturation and shows they are involved in spawning coordination.

Genetic knockdown and knockout approaches in Hydra

This study develops CRISPR-Cas9 and siRNA delivery methods for genetic manipulation in Hydra, enabling reliable gene interference and functional studies.

Ancestrally Shared Regenerative Mechanisms Across the Metazoa: A Transcriptomic Case Study in the Demosponge Halisarca caerulea

This paper presents a transcriptomic analysis of the demosponge Halisarca caerulea, identifying Wnt pathways and other genes involved in regeneration and providing a reference transcriptome for future studies.

Characterization Of NvLWamide-Like Neurons Reveals Stereotypy In Nematostella Nerve Net Development

The paper systematically characterizes NvLWamide-like neurons in Nematostella, revealing stereotypy in nerve net development and consistent neural subtype patterns.

Sensory discrimination by isolated feeding tentacles in Sanderia malayensis

The paper distinguishes two reflexes in isolated tentacles of Sanderia malayensis, identifying a bi-directional withdrawal network and a proximally directed feeding network.

The Genome Of The Contractile Demosponge Tethya wilhelma And The Evolution Of Metazoan Neural Signalling Pathways

A 125-megabase draft genome of the contractile demosponge Tethya wilhelma reveals extensive lineage-specific expansions, losses, and domain rearrangements across early metazoan neural signaling gene families.