A5079437805- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Developmental Biology and Gene Regulation
- Insect behavior and control techniques
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Cellular Mechanics and Interactions
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Wnt/β-catenin signaling in development and cancer
- Microtubule and mitosis dynamics
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Morphological variations and asymmetry
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Hippo pathway signaling and YAP/TAZ
- RNA Research and Splicing
- Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Bone Metabolism and Diseases
- Invertebrate Immune Response Mechanisms
Case Western Reserve University
2013-2023
Yale University
2018-2019
Hygrosensation is an essential sensory modality that used to find sources of moisture. Hygroreception allows animals avoid desiccation, existential threat increasing with climate change. Humidity response, however, remains poorly understood. Here we humidity-detecting sensilla in the Drosophila antenna express and rely on a small protein, Obp59a. Mutants lacking this protein are defective three hygrosensory behaviors, one operating over seconds, minutes, hours. Remarkably, loss Obp59a...
Dipteran or "true" flies occupy nearly every terrestrial habitat, and have evolved to feed upon a wide variety of sources including fruit, pollen, decomposing animal matter, even vertebrate blood. Here we analyze the molecular, genetic cellular basis odor response in tsetse fly Glossina morsitans, which feeds on blood humans their livestock, is vector deadly trypanosomes. The G. morsitans antenna contains specialized subtypes sensilla, some line sensory pit not found fruit Drosophila. We...
Morphogenetic gradients are essential to allocate cell fates in embryos of varying sizes within and across closely related species. We previously showed that the maternal NF-κB/Dorsal (Dl) gradient has acquired different shapes Drosophila species, which result unequally scaled germ layers along dorso-ventral axis repositioning neuroectodermal borders. Here we combined experimentation mathematical modeling investigate factors might have contributed fast evolutionary changes this gradient. To...
Significance Tsetse flies pose a major threat to the health and economy of sub-Saharan Africa. They transmit trypanosomes that cause African sleeping sickness in humans disease called nagana livestock. find their hosts large part through olfactory cues, but little is known about cellular basis olfaction these flies. We carried out systematic physiological analysis response tsetse antenna. identified 7 classes sensilla respond human or animal odors, CO 2 , pheromones, repellent. The...
Courtship is an elaborate behavior that conveys information about the identity of animal species and suitability individual males as mates. In Drosophila, there extensive evidence females are capable evaluating comparing male courtships, accepting or rejecting These relatively simple responses minimize random sexual encounters involving subpar conspecific heterospecific males, over generations can potentially select novel physical behavioral traits. Despite its evolutionary significance,...
Morphogenetic gradients specify distinct cell populations within tissues. Originally, morphogens were conceived as substances that act on a static field of cells, yet cells usually move during development. Thus, the way fates are defined in moving remains significant and largely unsolved problem. Here, we investigated this issue using spatial referencing 3D statistics Drosophila blastoderm to reveal how density responds morphogenetic activity. We show morphogen decapentaplegic (DPP) attracts...
Abstract Egg size is a fast‐evolving trait among Drosophilids expected to change the spatial distribution of morphogens that pattern embryonic axes. Here we asked whether patterning dorsal region embryo by Decapentaplegic/Bone Morphogenetic Protein‐4 (DPP/BMP‐4) gradient scaled Drosophila species with different egg sizes. This specifies extra‐embryonic tissue amnioserosa and ectoderm. We find entire scales size, but gene expression patterns regulated DPP are not proportional, suggesting...