Neurobiology of peptidergic and aminergic neurons in insects

我的研究项目的中心主题是昆虫神经系统的功能。我们正在建立神经系统交流的机制；使用神经生理学、神经化学、内分泌学和分子生物学技术检查激素、突触和调节机制。我们正在问的问题对所有神经系统来说都是根本性的重要问题：神经元如何将信息传递给目标细胞？哪些类型的化学物质充当这种信息的传递者，这些化学信息是如何被目标细胞翻译的？这种信息如何被调节和协调，以在动物身上产生适当的行为？特别是，我们感兴趣的是多肽和胺作为神经激素的作用，释放到血液中以协调不同细胞组的活动，以及作为神经调节器，调节不同途径正在进行的活动。我们专注于一些已识别的多肽家族和胺以及新的多肽，融合了多种技术，以寻求对适当细胞的整合和调节的完整了解。在医学上重要的细菌--罗氏罗氏杆菌(Rhodnius Prolixus)(恰加斯氏病的载体)中，我们正在检查一餐后发生的事件，包括利尿和抗利尿的激素控制。尤其是，我们正在定义与进食相关的准确输入，从而导致血液淋巴中5-羟色胺和利尿肽的升高，描述释放这些利尿和抗利尿因子的神经元的位置和生理特性。以及它们的神经活性化学物质(唾液腺、作物、后肠、马氏管和表皮细胞)的目标部位。这一领域的进展将由罗德尼乌斯基因组计划推动，该计划由国家人类基因组研究所为大规模测序网络资助，以回应一个财团提交的白皮书，我是该财团的成员。除了回答有关神经系统如何工作的基本问题外，这项研究还为害虫控制策略奠定了基础，将神经肽作为先导化合物。

The central theme of my research program is the functioning of the insect nervous system. We are establishing the mechanisms by which the nervous system communicates; examining hormonal, synaptic, and modulatory mechanisms using neurophysiological, neurochemical, endocrinological, and molecular biological techniques. The questions we are asking are fundamentally important for all nervous systems:  How can a neuron transmit information to a target cell? What types of chemicals act as the transmitters for this information and how are these chemical messages translated by the target cell? How can this information be modulated and coordinated to produce an appropriate behaviour in the animal? In particular we are interested in the role of peptides and amines as neurohormones, released into the blood to co-ordinate activities of diverse groups of cells, and as neuromodulators, modulating the ongoing activities of distinct pathways. We focus on a number of identified peptide families and amines and novel peptides, incorporating multiple techniques in the quest for a complete understanding of the integration and regulation of the appropriate cells.  In the medically important bug, Rhodnius prolixus, (the vector for Chagas' Disease) we are examining events that occur following a blood meal, including the hormonal control of diuresis and anti-diuresis.  In particular, we are defining the precise input associated with feeding that results in elevations in haemolymph serotonin and diuretic peptides, describing the location and physiological properties of the neurons that release these diuretic and anti-diuretic factors, and the target sites of their neuroactive chemicals (salivary glands, crop, hindgut, Malpighian tubules and epidermal cells).  Progress in this area will be enhanced by the Rhodnius genome project, a project funded by the National Human Genome Research Institute for the Large-Scale Sequencing Network, in response to a White Paper submitted by a consortium, of which I am a member.In addition to answering fundamental questions about how the nervous system works, this research also lays the foundation for pest control strategies, targeting neuropeptides as lead compounds.