The study of ionotropic receptors Ir21a, Ir25a y Ir93a in Drosophila melanogaster
Abstract
Many animals have thermosensory systems to avoid extreme temperatures, and also to find optimal temperatures. These systems are used by disease vector insects to locate their prey, such as mosquitoes, responsible for more than 700,000 deaths per year (1, 2).
The study of sensory systems in insects can provide clues to combat these vectors, as well as progress in the development of deterrent techniques to contain hematophages (3). In this project, the Drosophila melanogaster experimental model was used to study thermosensitive neurons (4).
There are fruit fly lines that allow the expression of GFP in the cells that express the receptors under study, in this way the expression patterns of receptors were studied in both larva and adult of this species using fluorescence and confocal microscopy. The calcium imaging technique was used for the physiological recording of thermosensitive neurons against temperature changes. Changes in fluorescence intensity dependent on temperature changes could be observed. Finally, a prediction of the structure of these receptors was carried out using different in silico techniques (5, 6).
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Copyright (c) 2025 Catalina Troncone, Carolina Abreu, Nicolás Arrionda, Victoria Basedas, Milagros Benitez, Mariana Di Doménico, Gonzalo Budelli, Santiago Sastre
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