Annual-Report-2019

GENOMICS OF LEARNING AND MEMORY IN
DISEASE VECTOR INSECTS
Our project focused on the following goals and objectives:
Goals:
1. Understanding the underlying mechanisms to vector behaviour;
2. Unravelling the molecular and genetic bases of learning and memory
in vectors.
Dr Marcelo Gustavo
Lorenzo
LE STUDIUM Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Research Fellow
Smart Loire Valley General Programme
From: Oswaldo Cruz Foundation - BR
In residence at: Insect Biology Research
Institute (IRBI) - Tours
Nationality: Argentina
Dates: May 2018 to May 2019
Marcelo Lorenzo graduated in Biology at the
University of Buenos Aires (1991), then became PhD
at the same university (1997). He had postdoctoral
experience in CPqRR-FIOCRUZ (1999-2002) and the
Swedish Agricultural Univ (2009-2011). He was an
Invited professor at University of Tours (May 2016)
and since May 2018 has initiated a stay funded
by Le Studium Institute for Advanced Studies.
Main experience on insect physiology (emphasis
on behavioral physiology), acting on topics such
as behavior, pheromones, functional genomics,
triatomines, development of baits and traps. 60
papers published on insect neuroethology. Expert
ad hoc for CNPq, Le Studium, CONICET, FAPEMIG,
FAPESP and other international institutions.
Editorial board member for PLOS ONE, Frontiers in
Ecology and Evolution and Neotropical Entomology.
Recently elected Vice-President of Latin American
Association of Chemical Ecology.
Specific objectives:
1. determining whether bug learning through the PER protocol depends in
a form of protein-dependent memory formation (LTM);
2. characterizing changes in expression profiles of known memory-related
genes in the brain of R. prolixus exposed to a learning protocol, as
compared to naïve ones;
3. and identifying a novel set of genes in the brain of R. prolixus whose
expression shows clusterisation with the memory-related genes above.
We have been able to set up adequate experimental conditions, biological
bioessays and molecular protocols for further study.
Experimental procedures have been evaluated through preliminary trials to
allow adjusting our protocol for the transcriptome study (e.g., RNA extraction
and bug learning protocols). Necessary reagents and small equipment have
been ordered and some have been already incorporated in our stock.
The development of drug injection protocols has been initiated for the
remaining experimental approach. In parallel, we have initiated experiments
to uncover the molecular bases of heat perception in triatomine bugs.
This experiment is intended to determine which receptor proteins are
necessary for the detection of infrared radiation emitted by hosts, which is
the key stimulus utilized for the learning protocols used in the main project.
These assays will require the down-regulation of target gene expression (with
three independent genes called TRPA1, inactive and waterwitch) through the
injection of specific dsRNA (a methodology named RNA interference).
Injected insects will then be used for testing their ability to respond to thermal
stimuli in comparison to intact bugs than have not been injected or bugs
injected with dsRNA for a mammal gene not found in insects (mock control).
Earth, Ecology & Environment Sciences 2019
70
Prof. Claudio Lazzari
Host scientist
Claudio Lazzari has obtained his Master degree and
PhD in Biological Sciences at the Univ. of Buenos
Aires (Argentina). He specialised in Biocybernetics
and neuroethology at the University of Tübingen
in Germany. After having occupied positions at
the University of Buenos Aires and CONICET
(Argentina), C. Lazzari moved to France in 2003 as
a full professor at the Univ. Tours, keeping strong
collaborative bonds with Argentinean and Brazilian
laboratories. He is interested in the behavioural
physiology of insects, in particular disease vectors
as mosquitoes and kissing-bugs. His research
focuses on the adaptations to the haematophagous
life, using an integrative approach. He has been
distinguished with the RAICES award to scientific
collaboration by the Argentinean Ministry of Science,
and named Honorary Professor by the University
of Buenos Aires and Corresponding Fellow by the
National Research Council of Argentina.