Central and Enteric signals during sleep and wake: a brain-gut axis functional characterization in Drosophila melanogaster.

• Applicant: Dr. Niccolò Pampaloni, Ph.D.
• Subject Area: Cognitive, Systems and Behavioural Neurobiology ; Experimental and Theoretical Network Neuroscience
• Term: since 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 524555192

This project aims to address electrical communication between the central and enteric nervous systems during periods of sleep and wake. How a functional electrochemical pattern can impact on an animal behavior and how it is encoded and relayed to other parts of the body as well as how these structures interact with one another will be addressed in this proposal. I aim to simultaneously co-record rhythmic activity patterns of genetically encoded voltage indicators (GEVIs) of targeted neuronal ensembles in the brain and gut in Drosophila melanogaster during period of sleep and wake, in rested versus sleep deprived animals. I aim to first characterize functional hallmarks related to the different behavioral states as well as to the various signaling pathways; then, in order to unveil the molecular mechanisms underlying those signals, I will challenge the system by means of locally delivered neurotransmitter application (i.e. glutamate uncaging), electrical impulses, pharmacological and/or optogenetic tools

• DFG Programme: WBP Position