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VERSION:2.0
PRODID:Icfo
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:P1W
BEGIN:VEVENT
UID:69d0e3415d4db
DTSTART:20250627T121500Z
SEQUENCE:0
TRANSP:OPAQUE
LOCATION:ICFO Auditorium
SUMMARY:ICFO | COSTANZA AGAZZI
CLASS:PUBLIC
DESCRIPTION:In Caenorhabditis elegans\, the embryo develops within the prot
 ective confines of an eggshell\, shielded from direct interactions with th
 e outside world. In this isolated environment\, neuronal mechanosensory ci
 rcuits\, responsible for translating physical forces into biochemical sign
 als\, are among the first to emerge during development. While their primar
 y function is to mediate interactions with the external mechanical world\,
  they also play a significant role in broader physiological and behavioral
  processes\, including synaptic plasticity and social bonding.\nc. elegans
  neurons responsible for the sense of touch arise very early during embryo
 genesis\, long before any physical interaction\, raising the question: whe
 n does the nervous system first awaken to the mechanical world it has yet 
 to experience?\nUnraveling the onsets of mechanosensation has critical imp
 lications for neuroscience and human health\, as its dysregulation is link
 ed to various diseases and neurodevelopmental disorders. For example\, stu
 dies on mouse models of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have demonstrated t
 hat the timing of mechanosensory disruptions during embryogenesis plays a 
 pivotal role in determining the severity of the condition. Despite its imp
 ortance\, our understanding of when mechanosensitivity first emerges remai
 ns limited\, also due to the practical and ethical challenges of studying 
 the application of mechanical forces to developing neural systems.\nTo add
 ress these challenges\, the goal of this project was to develop a multifun
 ctional experimental platform that combines precision mechanical stimulati
 on with live volumetric imaging\, enabling the investigation of induced ca
 lcium signals in the developing neural system of C. elegans embryos. Centr
 al to this platform is a custom open-top light sheet fluorescence microsco
 pe\, optimized for fast\, 3D imaging of calcium dynamics.\nThe imaging uni
 t is integrated with a fiber-optic-based nanoindenter\, which provides pre
 cise force application and quantitative characterization of the mechanical
  properties of the sample. This setup allows for controlled mechanical sti
 mulation while capturing real-time neuronal activity\, facilitating the an
 alysis of how and when external forces influence mechanosensory circuits d
 uring critical developmental stages.\nUsing this platform\, we conducted p
 roof-of-concept experiments to explore mechanosensory responses in C. eleg
 ans embryos. These studies validated the system's ability to trigger and r
 ecord precise neuronal activity\, demonstrating its experimental effective
 ness. Preliminary findings suggest that mechanosensory functionality might
  begin to emerge during the late stages of embryogenesis of C. elegans emb
 ryos\, offering a glimpse into the elusive timing of sensory circuits deve
 lopment.&nbsp\; Overall\, this work sets the stage for future investigatio
 ns into how these circuits awaken and their vital role in early neural dev
 elopment.\nFriday June 27\, 14:15 h. ICFO Auditorium \nThesis Director: Pr
 of. Dr. Michael Krieg
DTSTAMP:20260404T100905Z
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