A5071688145- Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Ion channel regulation and function
- Tryptophan and brain disorders
- Fungal Infections and Studies
- Vestibular and auditory disorders
- Genetic Neurodegenerative Diseases
- Antifungal resistance and susceptibility
- Photoreceptor and optogenetics research
- Nerve injury and regeneration
- Adipokines, Inflammation, and Metabolic Diseases
- Mental Health Research Topics
- Gut microbiota and health
- Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
- Retinal Development and Disorders
- Diet and metabolism studies
- Adipose Tissue and Metabolism
- Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
- Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Fish biology, ecology, and behavior
- Pancreatic function and diabetes
- Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Disease
- Birth, Development, and Health
- Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations
University of Florida
2020-2025
Florida College
2025
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
2006-2023
Texas Tech University
2017-2022
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
2020
Columbia University
2014
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
2004-2008
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
2008
Episodic ataxia type 2 (EA2) is a hereditary cerebellar associated with mutations in the P/Q-type voltage-gated calcium (Ca 2+ ) channels. Therapeutic approaches for treatment of EA2 are very limited. Presently, potassium (K + channel blocker 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) constitutes most promising treatment, although its mechanism action not understood. Here we show that, contrast to what commonly believed, therapeutic concentrations 4-AP do increase inhibitory drive Purkinje cells. Instead,...
Episodic ataxia type-2 (EA2) is an inherited movement disorder caused by mutations in the gene encoding Ca v 2.1α1 subunit of P/Q-type voltage-gated calcium channel that result overall reduction current. A consequence these loss precision pacemaking cerebellar Purkinje cells. This diminished reduces information encoded cells and thought to contribute symptoms associated with this disorder. The EA2 reduced activation calcium-dependent potassium channels (K ) smaller current vitro can be...
Neurotransmitter release is a highly controlled process by which synapses can critically regulate information transfer within neural circuits. While presynaptic receptors – typically activated neurotransmitters and modulated neuromodulators provide powerful way of fine-tuning synaptic function, their contribution to activity-dependent changes in transmitter remains poorly understood. Here, we report that NMDA (preNMDARs) at mossy fiber boutons the rodent hippocampus be physiologically...
Cryptococcus neoformans (Cn) causes life-threatening meningoencephalitis in individuals with AIDS. Cn's polysaccharide capsule is mainly composed of glucuronoxylomannan (GXM) and plays a key role the dysregulation immunity, resistance to antifungal drugs, systemic dissemination, including CNS invasion. Although recent studies have begun elucidate involvement microglia cryptococcosis, our knowledge these resident phagocytes control cryptococcosis limited. We investigated microglial responses...
Infection of the Central Nervous System (CNS) by encapsulated fungus Cryptococcus neoformans can lead to high mortality meningitis, most commonly in immunocompromised patients. While mechanisms which crosses blood-brain barrier initiate infection CNS are well recognized, there still substantial unanswered questions about disease progression once is established brain. C . characterized a glucuronoxylomannan (GXM)-rich polysaccharide capsule has been implicated immune evasion, but its role...
The cerebellum coordinates movement and maintains body posture. main output of the is formed by three deep nuclei, which receive direct inhibitory inputs from cerebellar Purkinje cells, excitatory collaterals mossy climbing fibres. Neurons nuclei (DCN) are spontaneously active, disrupting their activity results in severe ataxia. It suggested that voltage-gated calcium channels make a significant contribution to spontaneous DCN neurons, although exact identity these not known. We sought...
Neurotransmitter release probability (P(r)) largely determines the dynamic properties of synapses. While much is known about role presynaptic proteins in transmitter release, their specific contribution to synaptic plasticity unclear. One such protein, tomosyn, believed reduce P(r) by interfering with SNARE complex formation. Tomosyn enriched at hippocampal mossy fiber-to-CA3 pyramidal cell synapses (MF-CA3), which characteristically exhibit low P(r), strong facilitation, and pre-synaptic...
Neurodevelopmental disorders are conditions caused by the abnormal development of central nervous system. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is currently most common form such disorders, affecting 1% population worldwide. Despite its prevalence, mechanisms underlying ASD not fully known. Recent studies have suggested that maternal gut microbiome can profound effects on neurodevelopment. Considering microbial composition modulated diet, we tested hypothesis ASD-like behavior could be linked to...
Stress disrupts a variety of neural processes, including reducing levels brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus. In contrast, exercise increases BDNF and is beneficial for health cognition. Irisin myokine that released into circulation during exercise. Although its main known functions are browning white adipose tissue improving glucose homeostasis, also mediates activation an exercise-induced BDNF-mediated neuroprotective pathway Therefore, we tested hypothesis can...
Neural precursor cells (NPCs) transplanted into the adult neocortex generate neurons that synaptically integrate with host neurons, supporting possibility of achieving functional tissue repair. However, poor survival and neuronal recovery NPCs greatly limits engraftment. Here, we test hypothesis combining blood vessel-forming vascular precursors improves By transplanting mixed embryonic neocortical mice strokes, show transplant-derived synapse appropriate targets while donor form vessels...
Although it has been suggested that the cerebellum functions to predict sensory consequences of motor commands, how such predictions are implemented in cerebellar circuitry remains largely unknown. A detailed and relatively complete account predictive mechanisms emerged from studies cerebellum-like structures fish, suggesting comparisons may be useful. Here we characterize electrophysiological response properties Purkinje cells a region proper weakly electric mormyrid posterior caudal lobe...