WG Sachse
Our lab investigates the neural circuits and mechanisms underlying odor coding, processing, and perception in insects
- function, modulation and plasticity of sensory circuits
- evolution of olfactory coding in diverse insect species (flies, mosquitoes, locusts)
- multimodale integration inthe insect brains
- generation of new transgenic lines for non-model-insect species
Olfaction plays a crucial role in how animals navigate their environment to survive and reproduce. Using Drosophila melanogaster as our primary model, we aim to understand how olfactory circuits encode chemical cues and translate them into neuronal activity in the brain to mediate behavior. The vinegar fly represents a premier system for studying olfactory processing as it exhibits a stereotyped architecture similar to its mammalian counterpart but is less complex, highly tractable, and susceptible to genetic manipulations. We combine neurogenetic tools with advanced techniques, such as in vivo two-photon microscopy, anatomical tracing, neuronal reconstructions, and optogenetics, as well as a variety of behavioral assays. We collaborate closely with bioinformaticians to analyze imaging data and develop computational models. Beyond basic odor coding, we explore how olfactory circuits are shaped by internal states, experience, and learning. Additinally, we study olfactory processing in non-model species that occupy distinct ecological niches, such as Drosophila sister species and the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti. In addition, we are interested in how multiple sensory modalities are integrated and learned to guide complex adaptive behavior.
