Summary

• Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, w88 casino games, Reno, 2016-present
• w88 casino games Associate (Laboratory of Anton Maximov), The Scripps w88 casino games Institute, La Jolla, CA, 2009-2016
• Ph.D. student, Research Assistant (Laboratory of Frederique Scamps), Institute of w88 casino games Montpellier, Montpellier, France, 2004-2009

w88 casino games interests

The goal of our w88 casino games is to decipher the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying inhibitory neural plasticity. Virtually every neural circuit in the mammalian forebrain incorporates local inhibitory interneurons that tune the activity of their postsynaptic partners. While vastly outnumbered by principal excitatory cells, these interneurons play key roles in many facets of the brain function; from the processing of sensory information to the performance of complex cognitive tasks. Similarly to their excitatory counterpart, the inhibitory cell population undergo perpetual experience-driven remodeling of their connection throughout life and this plasticity is essential for shaping their network during development as well as for learning, and acquisition of memory in adult. Increasing evidence suggests that maladaptive plasticity mechanisms lead to the alteration of the inhibitory network and ultimately to circuit dysfunction that may contribute to a broad spectrum of neurological disorders in humans.

A major challenge of dissecting the principles of inhibitory network plasticity is the diversity of the interneuron population. There are a myriad of inhibitory subtypes that exhibit unique molecular profiles, morphologies, innervation patterns, and physiological properties. Taking advantage of genetic manipulations in mice with contemporary viral delivery methods we focus our w88 casino games on inhibitory Parvalbumin expressing basket cells (PV). Our previous work sheds light on a new form of plasticity that regulate the branching pattern of their axons in response to change in the excitatory inputs. Using a multidisciplinary approach that combines chemical- and light-activated receptors and channels with electrophysiological and imaging readouts, we investigate molecular and cellular mechanisms regulating PV synapse formation and their structural plasticity. Our major endeavor aims at addressing fundamental questions of how GABAergic neurons shape a coherent inhibitory network during development and how it is adjusted in response to experience. Ultimately we wish to identify genes whose function are critical for appropriate adaptive plasticity in mice as we believe it will set the premise to link genetic predispositions with the etiology of neurodevelopmental diseases and improve our understanding of the pathophysiology of such disorders in humans.

Courses taught

• BIOL 315 (w88 casino games)
  • Undergraduate level. w88 casino games, Reno.
  • This is a core course for biology majors that provides foundational instruction in w88 casino games. The average enrollment is 120 students/semester. Recent scientific discoveries are included to illustrate fundamental principles about w88 casino games and function.
• BIOL 671/471 (Neurobiology of Mental Illness)
  • Undergraduate and graduate level. w88 casino games, Reno.
  • The course covers neurobiological mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of major psychiatric disorders. It is a popular course among w88 casino games majors, w88 casino games and psychology graduate students and pre-med students. The average enrollment is ~50 students/semester.

Education

• Ph.D. in Neurosciences, Science w88 casino games Montpellier, France, 2008
• M.S. in Neurosciences, Science w88 casino games Montpellier, France, 2004
• B.S. in Animal Physiology, Science w88 casino games Nancy, France, 2003

Selected publications

• Hui CK, Chen N, Chakraborty A, Alaasam V, w88 casino games S and Ouyang JQ, Dim artificial w88 casino games alters immediate early gene expression throughout the avian brain. Front. Neurosci. 2023.
• Rukundo P., Feng T., Pham V., w88 casino games S.*, Moderate effect of early-life experience on dentate gyrus w88 casino games. w88 casino games Brain 2022.*corresponding author
• Huang M., w88 casino games S., Cao J., de Souza Polli P, Roncace V, Shen G, Anton Maximov A., Nr4a1 regulates w88 casino games circuit structure and function in the mouse brain bioRxiv. 2022.
• Allen K., Olvera R., Kumar M., Feng T., w88 casino games S., and Hoy J., A binocular perception deficit characterizes prey pursuit in developing mice. iScience, 2022.
• Feng T, Alicea C, Pham V, Kirk A, w88 casino games S*, Experience-dependent inhibitory plasticity is mediated by CCK+ basket cells in the developing dentate gyrus, J Neurosci. 2021 May 26;41(21):4607-4619. *corresponding author
• Alaasam VJ, Liu X, Niu Y, Habibian JS, w88 casino games S, Ferguson BS, Zhang Y, Ouyang JQ. Effects of dim artificial light at night on locomotor activity, cardiovascular physiology, and circadian clock genes in a diurnal songbird. Environ Pollut. 2021 Aug 1;282:117036.
• Bae B, Gruner HN, Lynch M, Feng T, So K, Oliver D, Mastick GS, Yan W, w88 casino games S, Miura P. Elimination of Calm1 long 3' UTR mRNA isoform by CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing impairs dorsal root ganglion development and hippocampal neuron activation in mice. RNA. 2020.
• Dillingham B., Cameron P., w88 casino games S., Cardozo L., Yoo E., Maximov A., Stowers L., Mayford M., Fear Learning Induces Long-Lasting Changes in Gene Expression and Pathway Specific Presynaptic Growth. bioRxiv. 2019.
• Lobanova A, She R, w88 casino games S, Clapp C, Maximov A, Denchi EL. Different requirements of functional telomeres in neural stem cells and terminally differentiated neurons. Genes Dev. 2017 Apr 1;31(7):639-647.
• Shimojo M, Courchet J, w88 casino games S, Torabi-Rander N, Sando R 3rd, Polleux F, Maximov A. SNAREs Controlling Vesicular Release of BDNF and Development of Callosal Axons. Cell Rep. 2015 May 19;11(7):1054-66.
• w88 casino games S, Gounko N, Sando R 3rd, Dang W, Rebboah E, Panda S, Madisen L, Zeng H, Maximov A. Experience-dependent remodeling of basket cell networks in the dentate gyrus. Neuron. 2014 Oct 1;84(1):107-122.
• Mairet-Coello G, Courchet J, w88 casino games S, Courchet V, Maximov A, Polleux F. The CAMKK2-AMPK kinase pathway mediates the synaptotoxic effects of Aβ oligomers through Tau phosphorylation. Neuron. 2013 Apr 10;78(1):94-108.
• Sando R. 3rd, Baumgaertel K., w88 casino games S., Torabi-Rander N., Wandless TJ., Mayford M., Maximov A. Inducible control of gene expression with destabilized Cre. Nat Methods. 2013.
• Sando R 3rd, Gounko N, w88 casino games S, Liao L, Yates J 3rd, Maximov A. HDAC4 governs a transcriptional program essential for synaptic plasticity and memory. Cell. 2012 Nov 9;151(4):821-834.
• w88 casino games S, Lucas O, Sangari S, Sar C, Boudes M, Bouffi C, Noel D, Scamps F. An autocrine neuronal interleukin-6 loop mediates chloride accumulation and NKCC1 phosphorylation in axotomized sensory neurons. J Neurosci. 2011 Sep 21;31(38):13516-26.

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