Argentine ant extract induces an dependent chemotaxis response in .

Many ant species are equipped with chemical defenses, although how these compounds impact nervous system function is unclear. Here, we examined the utility of chemotaxis assays for investigating how ant chemical defense compounds are detected by heterospecific nervous systems. We found that respond to extracts from the invasive Argentine Ant ( ) and the ion channel is required for this response.

Definition of a saxitoxin (STX) binding code enables discovery and characterization of the anuran saxiphilin family.

American bullfrog () saxiphilin (Sxph) is a high-affinity "toxin sponge" protein thought to prevent intoxication by saxitoxin (STX), a lethal bis-guanidinium neurotoxin that causes paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) by blocking voltage-gated sodium channels (Nas). How specific Sxph interactions contribute to STX binding has not been defined and whether other organisms have similar proteins is unclear. Here, we use mutagenesis, ligand binding, and structural studies to define the energetic basis of Sxph:STX recognition.

Social boldness correlates with brain gene expression in male green anoles.

Within populations, some individuals tend to exhibit a bold or shy social behavior phenotype relative to the mean. The neural underpinnings of these differing phenotypes - also described as syndromes, personalities, and coping styles - is an area of ongoing investigation. Although a social decision-making network has been described across vertebrate taxa, most studies examining activity within this network do so in relation to exhibited differences in behavioral expression.