Publications by authors named "Lucia L Prieto-Godino"
Article Synopsis
- The study examines how the Drosophila sechellia, a fruit-fly species that specializes in Morinda citrifolia (noni fruit), has evolved to have more olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) compared to its relative, D. melanogaster.
- Researchers found that the increase in OSNs enhances the ability to track noni odors more effectively, despite not improving the sensitivity of the projection neurons corresponding to those OSNs.
- The findings suggest that while more sensory neurons can help in odor detection, they actually lead to reduced adaptation of projection neurons, indicating a complex relationship between neuron quantity and sensory processing.
Article Synopsis
- Behaviour analysis is critical in neuroscience, but specific experimental setups for different animals can be complex; researchers often build their own solutions from the ground up.* -
- OptoPi is a cost-effective (£600) open-source behavioral arena that supports customizable visible and infrared lighting, multi-animal tracking with a Raspberry Pi camera, and optogenetic stimulation.* -
- The functionality of OptoPi is demonstrated through experiments tracking zebrafish and fruit fly larvae, showcasing its ability to monitor spontaneous behavior and implement optogenetic manipulation.*
Article Synopsis
- Researchers studied how certain sensory neurons that detect important environmental cues have expanded in some species, particularly focusing on a fruit specialist and its close relative.
- They discovered that increased populations of noni fruit-detecting olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) enhance the ability to track the noni odor, leading to more consistent behavior regarding the fruit.
- Despite having more OSNs, there isn't a higher sensitivity in their projection neuron partners; instead, the increased sensory pooling seems to reduce adaptation due to weakened lateral inhibition.
Article Synopsis
- Tsetse flies are important for public health and economic issues in sub-Saharan Africa due to their role in spreading African trypanosomiasis, a deadly disease.
- Unlike most insects, tsetse flies give birth to one larva that must burrow into the soil for survival, making the choice of where to give birth critical.
- Contrary to previous lab studies suggesting a larval pheromone attracted female tsetse flies to lay larvae, new experiments show that environmental substrate cues are the main factor in their choice, with no evidence supporting the role of pheromones.
Evolution of central neural circuits: state of the art and perspectives.
Nat Rev Neurosci
December 2022
Article Synopsis
- Animal behaviors have evolved through changes in their neural circuits, but understanding these changes has lagged behind knowledge of how circuits function and develop.
- Recent technological advancements, like genetic modifications and connectomics, have improved the study of neural circuits across different species, merging neuroscience with evolutionary biology.
- The synthesis highlights three key aspects of neural circuit evolution: synaptic connectivity, neuromodulation, and neurons, providing insights from various animal groups.
In a recent study, Zhao et al. decipher how the olfactory system encodes human versus animal odors in the mosquito Aedes aegypti. By combining genome engineering, invivo calcium imaging, advanced chemistry, and behavioral analysis, the authors provide compelling evidence that the discriminatory coding of host odors is surprisingly simple - and bridges labeled line with combinatorial coding.
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- The study examines the evolution of olfactory receptors Ir75a and Ir75b in fruit flies (drosophilids), focusing on their ability to sense organic acids despite low amino acid similarity.
- Researchers identified a key 'hotspot' in the receptor's binding pocket that significantly influences their ligand specificity and observed distinct evolutionary changes in these receptors.
- The findings suggest that receptor specificity is shaped not just by the binding pocket but also by other receptor-specific sites, highlighting complex networks driving the functional evolution of these olfactory proteins.
Article Synopsis
- - In many organisms, olfactory sensory neurons typically express only one type of olfactory receptor gene chosen from a larger set of options.
- - New research uncovers mechanisms that ensure this singular expression, primarily through transcriptional interference where upstream genes suppress downstream ones, and through a post-transcriptional process involving the Ir75c protein.
- - These findings reveal complex regulatory systems that manage unique receptor expression in sensory neurons, suggesting that similar mechanisms could also apply to other types of genes organized in tandem arrays.
Article Synopsis
- TReND is a charity run by volunteer scientists aimed at enhancing research and education in Africa, particularly in neuroscience.
- The organization addresses various challenges that hinder scientific progress on the continent.
- It shares insights and experiences from their efforts to implement solutions for improving Africa's scientific landscape.
Article Synopsis
- The COVID-19 pandemic is overwhelming global health systems, revealing significant gaps in resources like staff, testing facilities, and hospital beds.
- A collective response from not only healthcare workers but also skilled individuals from the public is essential to tackle the crisis effectively.
- Community-driven initiatives utilizing Free and Open Source scientific hardware and personal protective equipment (PPE) are being created to enhance the global response for COVID-19 prevention and treatment.
Programmed cell death (PCD) is widespread during neurodevelopment, eliminating the surpluses of neuronal production. Using the olfactory system, we examined the potential of cells fated to die to contribute to circuit evolution. Inhibition of PCD is sufficient to generate new cells that express neural markers and exhibit odor-evoked activity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Ionotropic receptors (IRs) are a large, divergent subfamily of ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs) that are expressed in diverse peripheral sensory neurons and function in olfaction, taste, hygrosensation and thermosensation. Analogous to the cell biological properties of their synaptic iGluR ancestors, IRs are thought to form heteromeric complexes that localise to the ciliated dendrites of sensory neurons. IR complexes are composed of selectively expressed 'tuning' receptors and one of two broadly expressed co-receptors (IR8a or IR25a).
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- Small model organisms like zebrafish, Drosophila, and C. elegans are popular in neuroscience research due to their ease of use and the ability to monitor behaviors while manipulating neurons.
- The 'FlyPi' is a budget-friendly, modular, open-source system that combines a 3D-printed frame, Raspberry Pi, and high-definition camera to facilitate such experiments for under €100, with additional features available for around €200.
- FlyPi is versatile, serving not only in neurogenetics experiments but also as a medical diagnostic tool and educational resource in various universities, emphasizing its practicality and affordability in research and teaching settings.
Article Synopsis
- Animals adapt their behaviors to their environments, but how their nervous systems evolve is still not fully understood.
- Researchers compared the olfactory systems of the specialist fruit fly Drosophila sechellia, which feeds on a specific fruit, to its more generalist relatives.
- They found that a single amino acid change in a sensory receptor allowed D. sechellia to detect a key compound in its food, revealing important genetic and regulatory modifications in its nervous system while maintaining core processing pathways.*
Article Synopsis
- * The research focuses on the Drosophila sechellia IR75a pseudogene, which has a fixed premature termination codon (PTC) yet encodes a functional receptor through a process called translational read-through, occurring specifically in neurons.
- * Unlike its orthologue in Drosophila melanogaster, which detects acetic acid, D. sechellia IR75a has adapted to have unique odor-tuning abilities, suggesting that similar functional PTC-bearing loci, referred to as 'pseudo-pseudogen
Article Synopsis
- The article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1002086 has been corrected to address errors or inaccuracies.
- This correction aims to ensure the integrity and reliability of the published research.
- Readers are encouraged to refer to the updated version for accurate information.
Article Synopsis
- - The advent of affordable 3-D printers marks a significant development in the "maker movement," likened to a new industrial revolution.
- - With free access to design blueprints and development tools, anyone can create complex prototypes at home, similar to early personal computing.
- - 3-D printing also accelerates the creation of essential items for labs, streamlining setup and operations in scientific and engineering fields.
Article Synopsis
- Advances in neuroscience have enhanced our knowledge of how neurons function and form complex circuits, particularly in the context of disease.
- The field is driven by the need for innovative techniques and collaboration across various disciplines.
- Many African countries face challenges like inadequate resources and funding in neuroscience, but efforts are underway to promote education and research in this area.
Article Synopsis
- Drosophila, commonly known as fruit flies, can detect and avoid food that is contaminated with harmful bacteria and fungi.
- They use a specialized olfactory pathway, meaning their sense of smell is finely tuned to recognize specific odors from these pathogens.
- This ability helps them make safer food choices, ultimately contributing to their survival and health.
The complete neuronal repertoire of the central brain of Drosophila originates from only approximately 100 pairs of neural stem cells, or neuroblasts. Each neuroblast produces a highly stereotyped lineage of neurons which innervate specific compartments of the brain. Neuroblasts undergo two rounds of mitotic activity: embryonic divisions produce lineages of primary neurons that build the larval nervous system; after a brief quiescence, the neuroblasts go through a second round of divisions in larval stage to produce secondary neurons which are integrated into the adult nervous system.
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- The study focuses on the formation of olfactory networks in Drosophila (fruit flies) during embryonic development, highlighting how the growth of olfactory connections is initiated by the afferents, similar to processes observed in vertebrates.
- Researchers utilized dye injection and genetic labeling, along with laser ablation and electrophysiological recording, to explore how olfactory lobe development depends on both physical contact and electrical activity among neurons.
- Findings reveal a surprising similarity between the early development of olfactory systems in different species and indicate that as development progresses, neural activity patterns evolve to enhance information processing, influenced by the expression of olfactory receptors.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates brain rhythms in Drosophila melanogaster, observing oscillatory activities in response to olfactory stimuli, similar to patterns seen in mammals during cognitive tasks.
- LFPs recorded from the flies show increased activity in the 70-80 Hz frequency range when exposed to odors, indicating a link to attentional states.
- Recurrent stimulation reduces power in this frequency range, while applying electric shocks before olfactory stimuli results in a temporary spike in LFPs, suggesting these signals relate to advanced olfactory processing in flies.