Episode 38: The Bloodthirsty Brain
Audio is streamed directly from the publisher (buzzsprout.com) as published in their RSS feed. Play Podcasts does not host this file. Rights-holders can request removal through the copyright & takedown page.
Show Notes
Dr. Laura Duvall (Columbia) investigates the neurobiological mechanisms underlying mosquito behavior, including the regulation of host-seeking after blood-feeding, circadian and seasonal biting rhythms, and mating behavior. She employs pharmacological and genetic approaches to uncover the neuropeptide pathways and anatomical circuits involved in these behavioral switches, shedding light on fundamental questions regarding mosquito biology. The laboratory also works to address the signaling mechanisms responsible for inhibiting re-mating and preventing interspecies mating, crucial for understanding reproductive strategies and interspecies competition among mosquitoes.