The brain senses and adapts to a wide range of environmental changes throughout life. We are interested in understanding how the neural stem cells and their cellular microenvironment (especially the niche cells) are able to detect and integrate different types of local and environnmental stimuli, from localised cellular growth to infection from neurotropic pathogens. We are relying on the powerful genetics of Drosophila as a model system, as well as on state-of-the-art transcriptional profiling and imaging to unravel the underlying mechansims of this adaptation. This will lead to a better picture of cellular interactions and dynamics in the brain under stress.
