Studying the mechanisms of pathogen avoidance
Avoidance behaviours are the first line of defence against pathogens and have been selected for throughout evolution; simply put animals that avoid situations where the risk of infectious disease is high are more likely to survive and procreate. All animals, from worms to humans, avoid pathogens. The human emotion of disgust is an adaptive disease avoidance system that could be harnessed to prevent infectious disease spread. Since human disgust must share common ancestry with pathogen avoidance behaviours in other animals we can begin to understand disgust through experimental studies of pathogen avoidance in animals, including the worm.
C. elegans avoids lawns of pathogenic bacteria and this behaviour can easily be observed in the lab. We are studying this behaviour in order to learn more about the genes and neuronal circuits that regulate it. Using genetics we can identify genes and factors that influence this behaviour, such as food availability, age and gender.
A full understanding of the evolution of pathogen avoidance behaviours could be used to inform the design of public health interventions that will be important in disease control. Interventions based on emotional drivers of behavior, including disgust, have been used to improve hygiene and handwashing rates.
C. elegans avoids lawns of pathogenic bacteria and this behaviour can easily be observed in the lab. We are studying this behaviour in order to learn more about the genes and neuronal circuits that regulate it. Using genetics we can identify genes and factors that influence this behaviour, such as food availability, age and gender.
A full understanding of the evolution of pathogen avoidance behaviours could be used to inform the design of public health interventions that will be important in disease control. Interventions based on emotional drivers of behavior, including disgust, have been used to improve hygiene and handwashing rates.
THE EFFECT OF ORGANOPHOSPHATE EXPOSURE ON NEURONAL FUNCTION AND ITS ROLE IN MOOD DISORDERS
In collaboration with Dr Gini Harrison (Psychology)
Previous research has reported a link between exposure to organophosphate (OP) pesticides, mood disorders and suicidal behaviour. The mechanism through which OP exposure may result in mood disorders is unclear. Some researchers have suggested that they may also cause changes to serotonergic and dopaminergic pathways, which are systems involved in mood and stress regulation. Using behavioural assays in C. elegans we are studying how the long-term, low level OP exposure that has been associated with mood disorders affects neuronal development and function. |
Communication between the nervous and immune systems
The nervous and immune systems respond quickly and precisely to changes in the environment. Communication between these two systems may underlie neurological disorders such as depression and explains why environmental factors, such as psychological stress, increase susceptibility to infections. What are the molecular mechanisms that link the nervous and immune systems? C. elegans has a well described nervous system and can be infected by several pathogens making it an appropriate model organism with which to address this question.
We have identified the neurotransmitter serotonin as a regulator of the immune response. Serotonin, synthesised in neurones in the head of the worm suppressed the immune response by regulating signalling pathways in the tail.
We have identified the neurotransmitter serotonin as a regulator of the immune response. Serotonin, synthesised in neurones in the head of the worm suppressed the immune response by regulating signalling pathways in the tail.