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Tadres D, Saxena N, Louis M. Using the Raspberry Pi Virtual Reality (PiVR) System to Study Drosophila Larval Chemotaxis with Real and Virtual Odor Gradients. Cold Spring Harb Protoc 2024; 2024:pdb.prot108120. [PMID: 37258057 DOI: 10.1101/pdb.prot108120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Here, we present a detailed protocol for the study of the orientation behavior of larvae of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster in response to both real and virtual odors (chemotaxis). An element common to the study of navigation directed by all sensory modalities is the need to correlate changes in behavioral states (e.g., crawling and turning) with temporal changes in the stimulus preceding these events. It has been shown recently that virtual odor landscapes, with any arbitrary geometry, can be created by combining a platform known as "Raspberry Pi virtual reality" (PiVR) with optogenetics. This methodology offers a technical foundation with which to characterize how the larval nervous system responds to stimulation by real and virtual odors. Furthermore, the experimental steps presented and discussed herein highlight important considerations that are needed to ensure experimental reproducibility. Finally, we believe that this framework can be easily adapted and generalized to allow investigators to study other sensory modalities in the Drosophila larva and in other animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Tadres
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106, USA
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106, USA
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nitesh Saxena
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106, USA
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106, USA
| | - Matthieu Louis
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106, USA
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106, USA
- Department of Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106, USA
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Kann MR, Ackerman MK, Ackerman SD. OptoChamber: A Low-cost, Easy-to-Make, Customizable, and Multi-Chambered Electronic Device for Applying Optogenetic Stimulation to Larval Drosophila melanogaster. MICROPUBLICATION BIOLOGY 2024; 2024:10.17912/micropub.biology.001082. [PMID: 38681674 PMCID: PMC11056014 DOI: 10.17912/micropub.biology.001082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Optogenetics is a powerful tool used to manipulate physiological processes in animals through cell-specific expression of genetically modified channelrhodopsins. In Drosophila melanogaster, optogenetics is frequently used for temporal control of neuronal activation or silencing through light-dependent actuation of cation and anion channelrhodopsins, respectively. The high setup costs and complexity associated with commercially available optogenetic systems prevents many investigators from exploring the use of this technology. We developed a low-cost, customizable, and easy-to-make optogenetics chamber (OptoChamber) and verified its functionality in a robust cellular assay: activity-dependent remodeling of larval motor neurons in Drosophila embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Ryan Kann
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Brian Immunology & Glia (BIG) Center, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, United States
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
| | | | - Sarah D. Ackerman
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Brian Immunology & Glia (BIG) Center, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, United States
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Fernandez MP, Trannoy S, Certel SJ. Fighting Flies: Quantifying and Analyzing Drosophila Aggression. Cold Spring Harb Protoc 2023; 2023:618-627. [PMID: 37019610 DOI: 10.1101/pdb.top107985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/07/2023]
Abstract
Aggression is an innate behavior that likely evolved in the framework of defending or obtaining resources. This complex social behavior is influenced by genetic, environmental, and internal factors. Drosophila melanogaster remains an effective and exciting model organism with which to unravel the mechanistic basis of aggression due to its small but sophisticated brain, an impressive array of neurogenetic tools, and robust stereotypical behavioral patterns. The investigations of many laboratories have led to the identification of external and internal state factors that promote aggression, sex differences in the patterns and outcome of aggression, and neurotransmitters that regulate aggression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria P Fernandez
- Department of Neuroscience and Behavior, Barnard College, New York City, New York 10027, USA
| | - Severine Trannoy
- Centre de Recherches sur la Cognition Animale (CRCA), Centre de Biologie Intégrative (CBI), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, 31062 Toulouse, France
| | - Sarah J Certel
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana 59812, USA
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Fischer FP, Karge RA, Weber YG, Koch H, Wolking S, Voigt A. Drosophila melanogaster as a versatile model organism to study genetic epilepsies: An overview. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1116000. [PMID: 36873106 PMCID: PMC9978166 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1116000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy is one of the most prevalent neurological disorders, affecting more than 45 million people worldwide. Recent advances in genetic techniques, such as next-generation sequencing, have driven genetic discovery and increased our understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms behind many epilepsy syndromes. These insights prompt the development of personalized therapies tailored to the genetic characteristics of an individual patient. However, the surging number of novel genetic variants renders the interpretation of pathogenetic consequences and of potential therapeutic implications ever more challenging. Model organisms can help explore these aspects in vivo. In the last decades, rodent models have significantly contributed to our understanding of genetic epilepsies but their establishment is laborious, expensive, and time-consuming. Additional model organisms to investigate disease variants on a large scale would be desirable. The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster has been used as a model organism in epilepsy research since the discovery of "bang-sensitive" mutants more than half a century ago. These flies respond to mechanical stimulation, such as a brief vortex, with stereotypic seizures and paralysis. Furthermore, the identification of seizure-suppressor mutations allows to pinpoint novel therapeutic targets. Gene editing techniques, such as CRISPR/Cas9, are a convenient way to generate flies carrying disease-associated variants. These flies can be screened for phenotypic and behavioral abnormalities, shifting of seizure thresholds, and response to anti-seizure medications and other substances. Moreover, modification of neuronal activity and seizure induction can be achieved using optogenetic tools. In combination with calcium and fluorescent imaging, functional alterations caused by mutations in epilepsy genes can be traced. Here, we review Drosophila as a versatile model organism to study genetic epilepsies, especially as 81% of human epilepsy genes have an orthologous gene in Drosophila. Furthermore, we discuss newly established analysis techniques that might be used to further unravel the pathophysiological aspects of genetic epilepsies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian P. Fischer
- Department of Epileptology and Neurology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Robin A. Karge
- Department of Epileptology and Neurology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Yvonne G. Weber
- Department of Epileptology and Neurology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
- Department of Neurology and Epileptology, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Henner Koch
- Department of Epileptology and Neurology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Stefan Wolking
- Department of Epileptology and Neurology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Aaron Voigt
- Department of Neurology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
- JARA-BRAIN Institute Molecular Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH and RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
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Zhou Y, Ding M, Nagel G, Konrad KR, Gao S. Advances and prospects of rhodopsin-based optogenetics in plant research. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 187:572-589. [PMID: 35237820 PMCID: PMC8491038 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiab338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Microbial rhodopsins have advanced optogenetics since the discovery of channelrhodopsins almost two decades ago. During this time an abundance of microbial rhodopsins has been discovered, engineered, and improved for studies in neuroscience and other animal research fields. Optogenetic applications in plant research, however, lagged largely behind. Starting with light-regulated gene expression, optogenetics has slowly expanded into plant research. The recently established all-trans retinal production in plants now enables the use of many microbial opsins, bringing extra opportunities to plant research. In this review, we summarize the recent advances of rhodopsin-based plant optogenetics and provide a perspective for future use, combined with fluorescent sensors to monitor physiological parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Zhou
- Institute of Physiology, Department of Neurophysiology, Biocenter, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg 97070, Germany
| | - Meiqi Ding
- Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology and Biophysics, Julius-von-Sachs-Institute, Biocenter, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg 97082, Germany
| | - Georg Nagel
- Institute of Physiology, Department of Neurophysiology, Biocenter, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg 97070, Germany
| | - Kai R. Konrad
- Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology and Biophysics, Julius-von-Sachs-Institute, Biocenter, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg 97082, Germany
| | - Shiqiang Gao
- Institute of Physiology, Department of Neurophysiology, Biocenter, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg 97070, Germany
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