Two-Photon Calcium Imaging in the Brain of Mosquitoes.

TitleTwo-Photon Calcium Imaging in the Brain of Mosquitoes.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2023
AuthorsZhao, Z, Weiss, L, McBride, CS
JournalCold Spring Harb Protoc
Volume2023
Issue3
Paginationpdb.prot108070
Date Published2023 Mar 01
ISSN1559-6095
KeywordsAedes, Animals, Animals, Genetically Modified, Brain, Calcium, Mosquito Vectors
Abstract

<p>Understanding the neural basis of mosquito behavior is critical for designing effective vector control strategies and can potentially shed new light on basic nervous system function. Because mosquitoes are a non-model species, however, functional studies of mosquito nervous systems have long been restricted to electrophysiological recording from peripheral sensory organs such as the antenna. This is now changing with the advent of CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing and the development of other powerful new genetic tools. Transgenic mosquitoes that carry genetically encoded calcium sensors, for example, open the door to optical recording of neural activity with two-photon calcium imaging. Compared with electrophysiology, calcium imaging permits continuous monitoring of neural activity from large populations of neurons, even deep in the brain. When combined with selective neural drivers, it also allows targeted recording from specific neuronal types. Here, we describe a calcium imaging protocol we use in our laboratory to study neural activity in the brain of mosquitoes.</p>

DOI10.1101/pdb.prot108070
Alternate JournalCold Spring Harb Protoc
PubMed ID36446529