Monomorphic Neurons Underlying Aggressive Actions in Drosophila

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

3:00 PM-5:00 PM

BIOMED PhD Research Proposal

Title:
Monomorphic Neurons Underlying Aggressive Actions in Drosophila

Speaker:
Liangyu Tao, PhD Candidate
School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems
Drexel University

Advisor:
Vikas Bhandawat, PhD
Associate Professor
School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems
Drexel University

Details:
Aggression is a critical survival behavior that involves both sexually monomorphic and dimorphic actions. How the brain implements these two types of actions is poorly understood. Historically, much of the work on Drosophila aggression has focused on the role of sexually dimorphic neurons involved in sensory and internal drives that result in long term modulation of dimorphic aggressive actions. However, the role of sexually monomorphic neurons in acute aggression is largely unknown.

Recently, we found that a single class of monomorphic neurons interneurons called CL062, which was previously shown to mediate male wing threats, also mediate acute female aggression. Although the aggressive actions are shared, the moment-by-moment implementation is sexually dimorphic. Using spatially targeted optogenetics and in-vivo patch clamp electrophysiology in a head-fixed preparation, I will describe the role of these neurons in controlling aggressive wing threats. Using connectomics analysis on an EM dataset, I will show that these neurons are likely part of a monomorphic circuit that functions parallel to the known dimorphic circuits.

Contact Information

Natalia Broz
njb33@drexel.edu