Intricate response dynamics enhances stimulus discrimination in the resource-limited C. elegans chemosensory system.

Background: Sensory systems evolved intricate designs to accurately encode perplexing environments. However, this encoding task may become particularly challenging for animals harboring a small number of sensory neurons. Here, we studied how the compact resource-limited chemosensory system of Caenorhabditis elegans uniquely encodes a range of chemical stimuli.

Addendum: Irrational behavior in C. elegans arises from asymmetric modulatory effects within single sensory neurons.

We would like to make our readers aware of the publication by Cohen et al., which reports irrational behaviour in C. elegans olfactory preference[1] .

Irrational behavior in C. elegans arises from asymmetric modulatory effects within single sensory neurons.

C. elegans worms exhibit a natural chemotaxis towards food cues. This provides a potential platform to study the interactions between stimulus valence and innate behavioral preferences.

A Memory Circuit for Coping with Impending Adversity.

Organisms' capacity to anticipate future conditions is key for survival. Associative memories are instrumental for learning from past experiences, yet little is known about the processes that follow memory retrieval and their potential advantage in preparing for impending developments. Here, using C.

Nanoparticle mediated drug delivery of rolipram to tyrosine kinase B positive cells in the inner ear with targeting peptides and agonistic antibodies.

Aim: Systemic pharmacotherapies have limitation due to blood-labyrinth barrier, so local delivery via the round window membrane opens a path for effective treatment. Multifunctional nanoparticle (NP)-mediated cell specific drug delivery may enhance efficacy and reduce side effects. Different NPs with ligands to target TrkB receptor were tested.

Enhanced axon outgrowth and improved long-distance axon regeneration in sprouty2 deficient mice.

Sprouty (Spry) proteins are negative feedback inhibitors of receptor tyrosine kinase signaling. Downregulation of Spry2 has been demonstrated to promote elongative axon growth of cultured peripheral and central neurons. Here, we analyzed Spry2 global knockout mice with respect to axon outgrowth in vitro and peripheral axon regeneration in vivo.

Nanomedicine strategies for drug delivery to the ear.

The highly compartmentalized anatomy of the ear aggravates drug delivery, which is used to combat hearing-related diseases. Novel nanosized drug vehicles are thought to overcome the limitations of classic approaches. In this article, we summarize the nanotechnology-based efforts involving nano-objects, such as liposomes, polymersomes, lipidic nanocapsules and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles, as well as nanocoatings of implants to provide an efficient means for drug transfer in the ear.

A new tool to ensure the fluorescent dye labeling stability of nanocarriers: a real challenge for fluorescence imaging.

Numerous studies on nanocarriers use fluorescent dye labeling to investigate their biodistribution or cellular trafficking. However, when the fluorescence dye is not grafted to the nanocarrier, the question of the stability of the labeling arises. How can it be validated that the fluorescence observed during an experiment corresponds to the nanocarriers, and not to the free dye released from the nanocarriers? Studying the integrity of the labeling is challenging.

Endocytic trafficking of silica nanoparticles in a cell line derived from the organ of Corti.

Background: Due to their biochemical versatility, nanoparticles (NPs) have become one of the most important future carriers for drugs and genes. NP-mediated delivery could enable an effective pharmacotherapy to the inner ear and combat hearing loss.

Aims: This study investigates the endocytic trafficking of silica NPs within HEI-OC1 cells, a cell line derived from the inner ear.