A5050979017- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Developmental Biology and Gene Regulation
- Retinal Development and Disorders
- Hippo pathway signaling and YAP/TAZ
- Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms
- Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics
- Cellular Mechanics and Interactions
- Invertebrate Immune Response Mechanisms
- Axon Guidance and Neuronal Signaling
- Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
- Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
- Plant Molecular Biology Research
- Animal Genetics and Reproduction
- Mitochondrial Function and Pathology
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- RNA Research and Splicing
- Pluripotent Stem Cells Research
- Advanced Scientific Research Methods
- Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Studies on Chitinases and Chitosanases
- Microtubule and mitosis dynamics
- Bioinformatics and Genomic Networks
- Cell Image Analysis Techniques
- Insect Resistance and Genetics
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
University College London
2020-2024
New York University
2015-2018
Simon Fraser University
2014-2015
McGill University
2011
University of Washington
2009
Ants are some of the most abundant and familiar animals on Earth, they play vital roles in terrestrial ecosystems. Although all ants eusocial, display a variety complex fascinating behaviors, few genomic resources exist for them. Here, we report draft genome sequence particularly widespread well-studied species, invasive Argentine ant ( Linepithema humile ), which was accomplished using combination 454 (Roche) Illumina sequencing community-based funding rather than federal grant support....
We report the draft genome sequence of red harvester ant, Pogonomyrmex barbatus . The was sequenced using 454 pyrosequencing, and current assembly annotation were completed in less than 1 y. Analyses conserved gene groups (more 1,200 manually annotated genes to date) suggest a high-quality comparable recently insect genomes Sanger sequencing. ant is model for studying reproductive division labor, phenotypic plasticity, sociogenomics. Although P. similar other hymenopterans ( Apis mellifera...
Vilaiwan M. Fernandes1, Vanessa Auld2 and Christian Klämbt3 1Department of Cell Developmental Biology, University College London, London UC1E 6DE, United Kingdom 2Department Zoology, British Columbia, Vancouver, Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada 3Institute for Neuro- Behavioral Münster, Münster 48149, Germany Correspondence: klaembt{at}uni-muenster.de
Neuronal birth and specification must be coordinated across the developing brain to generate neurons that constitute neural circuits. We used Drosophila visual system investigate how development is establish retinotopy, a feature of all systems. Photoreceptors achieve retinotopy by inducing their target field in optic lobe, lamina neurons, with secreted differentiation cue, epidermal growth factor (EGF). find communication between photoreceptors cells requires signaling relay through glia....
Morphology is a defining feature of neuronal identity. Like neurons, glia display diverse morphologies, both across and within glial classes, but are also known to be morphologically plastic. Here, we explored the relationship between morphology transcriptional signature using Drosophila central nervous system (CNS), where categorised into 5 main classes (outer inner surface glia, cortex ensheathing astrocytes), which show within-class morphological diversity. We analysed validated...
During morphogenesis, extracellular signals trigger actomyosin contractility in subpopulations of cells to coordinate changes cell shape. To illuminate the link between signaling-mediated tissue patterning and cytoskeletal remodeling, we study progression morphogenetic furrow (MF), wave apical constriction that traverses Drosophila eye imaginal disc preceding photoreceptor neurogenesis. Apical depends on downstream Hedgehog (Hh) bone protein (BMP) pathways. We identify a role for integrin...
How neuronal and glial fates are specified from neural precursor cells is an important question for developmental neurobiologists. We address this in the Drosophila optic lobe, composed of lamina, medulla, lobula complex. show that two gliogenic regions posterior to prospective lamina also produce wide-field (Lawf) neurons, which share common progenitors with glia. These express neither canonical neuroblast nor cell markers. They bifurcate into sub-lineages response Notch signaling,...
Time-lapse imaging is an essential tool to study dynamic biological processes that cannot be discerned from fixed samples alone. However, cell-and tissue-level in intact animals poses numerous challenges if the organism opaque and/or motile. Explant cultures of tissues circumvent some these challenges, but sample drift remains a considerable obstacle. We employed simple yet effective technique immobilize medium-bathed agarose. applied this multiple Drosophila first-instar larvae adult stages...
Many genetic networks are astonishingly robust to quantitative variation, allowing these continue functioning in the face of mutation and environmental perturbation. However, evolution such robustness remains poorly understood for real networks. Here we explore whether how ploidy recombination affect a detailed computational model segment polarity network. We introduce novel method that predicts values biochemical parameters from bit sequences representing genotype, our bridge genotype...
ABSTRACT Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) lies downstream of a core signalling cascade that controls all aspects development and adult homeostasis. Recent developments have led to new tools image manipulate the pathway. However, visualising ERK activity in vivo with high temporal resolution remains challenge Drosophila. We adapted translocation reporter (KTR) for use Drosophila, which shuttles out nucleus when phosphorylated by ERK. show ERK-KTR faithfully reports endogenous...
Various regions of the developing brain coordinate their construction so that correct types and numbers cells are generated to build a functional network. We previously discovered wrapping glia in Drosophila visual system essential for coordinating retinal lamina development. showed glia, which ensheath photoreceptor axons, respond an epidermal growth factor cue from photoreceptors by secreting insulins. Wrapping glial insulins activate mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway...
Abstract Morphology is a defining feature of neuronal identity. Like neurons, glia display diverse morphologies, both across and within glial classes, but are also known to be morphologically plastic. Here, we explored the relationship between morphology transcriptional signature using Drosophila central nervous system, where categorized into five main classes (outer inner surface glia, cortex ensheathing astrocytes), which show within-class morphological diversity. We analysed validated...
Neural circuit formation and function require that diverse neurons are specified in appropriate numbers. Known strategies for controlling neuronal numbers involve regulating either cell proliferation or survival. We used the Drosophila visual system to probe how set. Photoreceptors from eye-disc induce their target field, lamina, such every unit eye there is a corresponding lamina (column). Although each column initially contains ~6 post-mitotic precursors, only 5 differentiate into neurons,...
Defining the origin of neuronal diversity is a major challenge in developmental neurobiology. The Drosophila visual system an excellent paradigm to study how cellular generated. Photoreceptors from eye disc grow their axons into optic lobe and secrete Hedgehog (Hh) induce lamina, such that for every unit there corresponding lamina made up post-mitotic precursors stacked columns. Each differentiated column contains five neuron types (L1-L5), making it simplest neuropil lobe, yet this...
Summary Neural circuit formation and function require that diverse neurons are specified in appropriate numbers. Known strategies for controlling neuronal numbers involve regulating either cell proliferation or survival. We used the Drosophila visual system to probe how set. Photoreceptors from eye-disc induce their target field, lamina, such every unit eye there is a corresponding lamina (column). Although each column initially contains ∼6 post-mitotic precursors, only 5 differentiate into...
Abstract Defining the origin of neuronal diversity is a major challenge in developmental neurobiology. The Drosophila visual system an excellent paradigm to study how cellular generated. Photoreceptors from eye disc grow their axons into optic lobe and secrete Hedgehog (Hh) induce lamina, such that for every unit there corresponding lamina made up post-mitotic precursors stacked columns. Each differentiated column contains five neuron types (L1-L5), making it simplest neuropil lobe, yet this...