Our lab investigates how animals detect and respond to odors, taste, and some pheromone. We've made significant strides in understanding the molecular basis of chemoreception. We've made several advances in the field, including the discovery of the first insect odor receptors, the discovery of the first insect taste receptors, and the elucidation of basic principles of the logic of odor and taste coding.
This technique allows the measurement of test neuron activity before, during, and after the stimulus. Thus, it allows extensive analysis of OFF responses that occur after a taste stimulus. It also allows the measurement of taste neuron activity to the river of volatile compounds.
The classical technique for taste electrophysiology was unable to measure taste responses to hydrophobic compounds such as long-chain pheromones that have very low solubility in water. However, with the help of this technique, we can overcome this limitation by separating the recording electrode from the glass stimulus capillary. Our research explores the functioning of the chemosensory systems in animals, focusing on their role in feeding and mating choices.
We're currently examining non-coding RNAs and micro peptides in fruit flies'olfactory systems, and how mosquitoes and tsetse flies use these systems to find human hosts.
