The Research Aim
How neural circuits form and maintain their exquisite architecture is an enduring question in developmental neurobiology. Our goal is to understand how the molecular & cellular interactions of neurons and glial cells pattern and shape the impressive diversity of neural cell morphologies and connectivity that is observed in animal neural circuits, and the mechanisms that maintain this architecture throughout life.
Nerve ring CEPsh glia 3D reconstruction.mp4The Approach
We use the nematode C. elegans to investigate circuits in living embryos and throughout age progression, in single-cell and single-gene resolution. With an identified number of 302 neurons & 50 glia, and mapped lineage, anatomy & connectivity, and conserved genes & signaling pathways, C. elegans is an ideal platform for investigating our research questions.
We use an array of interdisciplinary approaches of advanced genetics, molecular & cell biology, advanced imaging, cell and gene manipulations in space and time to study our research questions.
We highlight remarkable similarities between C. elegans & vertebrate circuits (Rapti, 2023) & establish collaborations to dissect general principles patterning circuit architecture across species.