On this episode, Vivianne gives a primer on glial cells, with the goal of thinking about the central nervous system holistically and appreciating the different cell types that contribute to its function.

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Jason Shepherd, Timothy Cheung, and Vivianne Morrison

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Download TWiN 019  (43 MB .mp3, 71 min)
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Music is by Ronald Jenkees

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Mauro Costa-Mattioli joins TWiN to discuss how his laboratory dissects the contribution of host genetics and the microbiome in complex neurodevelopment disorders such as autism spectrum disorders.

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Ori Lieberman, Jason Shepherd, Timothy Cheung, and Vivianne Morrison

Guest: Mauro Costa-Mattioli

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Download TWiN 018  (43 MB .mp3, 71 min)
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Music is by Ronald Jenkees

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Michael Nitabach joins TWiN to discuss the finding that the nematode C. elegans, which do not have eyes, can discriminate between colors to guide foraging decisions and move them away from harmful bacteria that produce a blue-pigment toxin.

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Ori Lieberman, Jason Shepherd, Timothy Cheung, and Vivianne Morrison

Guest: Michael Nitabach

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Download TWiN 017  (49 MB .mp3, 82 min)
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Music is by Ronald Jenkees

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The paper discussed in this episode of TWiN has been retracted by the authors, one of whom was the guest on this podcast. Hence the recordings have been deleted. Below is the retraction notice from Cell

Retraction Notice to: Genomic Decoding of Neuronal Depolarization by Stimulus-Specific NPAS4 Heterodimers

G. Stefano Brigidi ∙ Michael G.B. Hayes ∙ Nathaniel P. Delos Santos ∙ Andrea L. Hartzell ∙ Lorane Texari ∙ Pei-Ann Lin ∙ Anna Bartlett ∙ Joseph R. Ecker ∙ Christopher Benner ∙ Sven Heinz ∙ Brenda L. Bloodgood

(Cell 179, 373–391.e1–e27; October 3, 2019)

This article has been retracted at the request of the authors.

In this publication, we, the authors, described two induction mechanisms that lead to the expression of NPAS4 and the formation of stimulus-specific heterodimers. After unsuccessful efforts within the Bloodgood lab to recapitulate the core results, we reexamined the original image files and uncovered irregularities associated with data collected and analyzed by the first author, G. Stefano Brigidi. We determined that replicates were fabricated and that images misrepresented all or substantial parts of Figures 1–4 and the associated supplemental figures. We reported this to our institution, University of California San Diego, and the institution appointed an ad hoc committee that conducted an independent investigation. This committee concluded that Dr. Brigidi was responsible for the fabricated and/or falsified results. It was found that Figures 1A–1J, 1L–1T, 2B–2P, 3B–3I, 4C–4G, and 4J–4Q and the supplemental Figures S1A–S1J, S2A–S2H, S3A–S3T, S5B–S5G, and S6A–S6H were manipulated by combining and falsifying datasets to increase n values and altered confocal imaging signals and their quantification. The findings of research misconduct from the Department of Health and Human Services are published and also support the retraction of the paper (https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/04/10/2024-07575/findings-of-research-misconduct). We do not stand by the conclusions drawn in this paper and are retracting it. We apologize to the scientific community for any loss of time, resources, and/or morale caused by this publication.

Helen joins TWiN to discuss her work on understanding how the maternal microbiome modulates fetal neurodevelopment in mice.

Hosts: Ori Lieberman, Andres Bendesky, Jason Shepherd, and Vincent Racaniello

Guest: Helen Vuong

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Download TWiN 015  (30 MB .mp3, 50 min)
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Ori, Jason, and Vincent discuss the use of antibodies to neutralize amyloid-β seeds before their deposition becomes detectable in transgenic mice, and the finding that the preclinical phase of Alzheimer‘s disease may be a late manifestation of earlier pathogenic seed formation.

Hosts: Ori Lieberman, Jason Shepherd, and Vincent Racaniello

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Download TWiN 014  (43 MB .mp3, 71 min)
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Ori, Jason, Erin, and Vincent dissect a study that utilizes single-cell RNA sequencing to reveal the genes that underlie remote memory storage in the medial prefrontal cortex of the mouse.

Hosts: Ori Lieberman, Erin Calipari, Jason Shepherd, and Vincent Racaniello

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Download TWiN 013  (41 MB .mp3, 68 min)
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Ori, Jason, and Vincent reveal identification of an orphan receptor that modifies short-term memory in mice, and a mouse model of COVID-19 that includes anosmia or loss of smell.

Hosts: Ori Lieberman, Vincent Racaniello, and Jason Shepherd

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Download TWiN 012  (44 MB .mp3, 73 min)
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Maria joins TWiN to explain how single-cell transcriptomics is being used to reveal the evolution of the brain, at a cost of about $1 per neuron.

Hosts: Ori Lieberman, Andres Bendesky, and Vincent Racaniello

Guest: Maria Tosches

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Download TWiN 011  (40 MB .mp3, 66 min)
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TWiN explains how a cytokine produced by neurons activates microglia which modify the extracellular matrix and remodel synapses, leading to memory consolidation.

Hosts: Ori Lieberman, Andres Bendesky, Erin Calipari, Jason Shepherd and Vincent Racaniello

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Download TWiN 010  (40 MB .mp3, 67 min)
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  • IL-33 promotes synaptic plasticity (Cell) 4:51, 12:25
  • Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Music is by Ronald Jenkees

Send your neuroscience questions and comments to twin@microbe.tv