Luminescence in the Black Ocean of Brain-Gut Axis Connection

Tung, Emily

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/114207 Copy

Description

Title

Luminescence in the Black Ocean of Brain-Gut Axis Connection

Author(s)

Tung, Emily

Contributor(s)

Mei, Wenyan

Issue Date

2022

Keyword(s)

Comparative Biosciences

Abstract

The enteric nervous system (ENS) is the most significant system that controls gastrointestinal behavior, located within the intestines. There is currently a vast, black ocean of ENS information that scientists have yet to uncover: this is reflected in the lack of world research characterizing the ENS, which could be a major factor in understanding the neurological brain-gut axis and fatal diseases stemming from this connection. My research focuses on elucidating this remarkable link between the ENS and brain neuronal genes, and I swim through the trenches of research to gather data on this mysterious ENS. I primarily work on zebrafish models with a deletion mutation in hnRNPI, a gene that manages neural brain splicing. This immunofluorescence photo reveals neuronal subtypes from an hnRNPI-mutant zebrafish intestine, in which we have observed differences in abundance and distribution compared to wildtype (normal) zebrafish intestines. Much like life, discovering links between seemingly unconnected topics can be the key to building foundational knowledge and developing novel solutions. Characterizing the connections between the ENS and neurological illnesses will take us one step closer to developing effective treatment for our next generation of neurological/gastrointestinal patients.

Type of Resource

• Text
• Image

Language

eng

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/114207

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2022 Emily Tung

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