Decoding modality-specific circuit function and neuromodulation in the Drosophila nociceptive network

神经元网络的感觉输入特异性激活是如何产生特定行为的，这对于理解神经系统功能至关重要。这也适用于伤害感受，感知和避免有害刺激的能力。包括热和强机械刺激在内的环境输入可能对生物体有害，通常被认为是伤害性的，并引起强烈的回避或逃避反应。哺乳动物和果蝇的伤害感受系统能够感知和区分不同的伤害形式，包括机械刺激和高温。这些有害的线索是如何被底层网络编码并引起逃避行为的，目前还不完全清楚。利用果蝇幼虫的伤害性感受网络，我们的目的是阐明在这个系统中的有害的机械和热刺激的分歧编码。在果蝇幼虫中，有害的热或机械刺激引起类似的高度定型的逃避反应。然而，我们以前的工作已经表明，潜在的感觉网络不同，差异需要的神经肽，神经肽Y同系物短神经肽F（sNPF）的行动，适当的功能。 使用解剖，功能和行为分析，我们的目标是解剖神经元网络的子集参与机械或热感受。我们将进一步研究sNPF肽的相关来源，这些肽是促进对热或机械刺激的行为反应所必需的。最后，我们将鉴定sNPF反应的神经元亚群，并分析其受体介导的下游信号反应，这些方法旨在阐明特定伤害性刺激如何通过募集神经肽信号引起离散的神经元网络反应。

How specific behaviors are generated by sensory input-specific activation of neuronal networks is of fundamental importance for understanding nervous system function. This is also true for nociception, the ability to perceive and avoid harmful stimuli. Environmental inputs including heat and strong mechanical stimuli, which can be potentially harmful to an organism, are generally perceived as nociceptive and elicit a strong avoidance or escape response. The mammalian and Drosophila nociceptive systems are able to perceive and distinguish different noxious modalities including mechanical stimuli and high temperature. How these noxious cues are encoded by the underlying network and give rise to escape behavior is not fully understood. Using the Drosophila larval nociceptive network, we aim to elucidate the divergent encoding of noxious mechanical and thermal stimuli in this system. In Drosophila larvae, noxious heat or mechanical stimulation gives rise to a similar, highly stereotyped escape response. However, our previous work has shown that the underlying sensory networks differ and differentially require the action of a neuropeptide, the Neuropeptide Y homolog short Neuropeptide F (sNPF), for proper function. Using anatomical, functional and behavioral analyses, we aim to dissect the neuronal network subsets involved in mechano- or thermonociception. We will further investigate the relevant sources of the sNPF peptide, which are required to facilitate behavioral responses to heat or mechanical stimulation. Lastly, we will identify the neuronal subsets responding to sNPF and analyze the downstream signaling responses mediated by its receptor.Altogether, these approaches aim to elucidate how specific noxious stimuli elicit discrete neuronal network responses through recruitment of neuropeptide signaling.