Aurelie VandenBeuch

Research Associate

Education

Ph.D, Food Sciences, University Denis Diderot, Paris, France

Research Summary

My research interests are dedicated to the neurobiology of the chemical senses and more particularly on the taste system. My attention is more focused on the peripheral taste system and how the taste signal is processed and shaped in taste buds but also how taste bud cells communicate with the afferent nerve fibers to transmit the information to the brain. To answer these questions, I use electrophysiological techniques and notably gustatory nerve recordings.

Keywords

Taste buds, electrophysiology, transduction, neurotransmitters

Recent Publications

Kataoka, S.; Baquero, A.; Yang, D.; Shultz, N.; Vandenbeuch, A.; et al. (2012) A2BR adenosine receptor modulates sweet taste in circumvallate taste buds. PLoS ONE, 7, e30032.

Braud, A.; Vandenbeuch, A.; Zerari-Mailly, F.; Boucher, Y. (2012) Dental afferents project onto gustatory neurons in the nucleus of the solitary tract. Journal of Dental Research, 91, 215-220.

Vandenbeuch, A.; Zorec, R.; Kinnamon, S.C. (2010) Capacitance measurements of regulated exocytosis in mouse taste cells. Journal of Neuroscience, 2010, 14695-14701.

Vandenbeuch, A.; Tizzano, M.; Anderson, C.B.; Stone, L.M.; Goldberg, D.; Kinnamon, S.C. (2010) Evidence for a role of glutamate as an efferent transmitter in taste buds. BMC Neuroscience, 11.

Tizzano, M.; Gulbransen, B.D.; Vandenbeuch, A.; Clapp, T.R.; et al. (2010) Nasal chemosensory cells use bitter taste signaling to detect irritants and bacterial signals. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, USA, 107, 3210-3215.

Kinnamon, S.C.; Vandenbeuch, A. (2009) Receptors and transduction of umami taste stimuli. Annals of the New York Academy of Science, 1170, 55-59.

Vandenbeuch, A.; Kinnamon, S.C. (2009) Why do taste cells generate action potentials? Journal of Biology, 8, 42.

Weiwei Lei

Postdoctoral Fellow

Education

Ph.D., Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology; Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Research Summary

My current research focuses on two parts. The first is focused on the sweet taste receptor T1R2/T1R3, a heteromer comprising two G-protein coupled receptors T1R2 and T1R3. I am interested in the activation process and biochemical modification of the T1R2/T1R3 receptor in response to a wide range of sweeteners. The second part is the role of LGR5-expressing adult taste stem/progenitor cells in taste bud cell renewal. We have notified that taste stem cells are marked by LGR5 in posterior tongue. However, it remains unanswered if LGR5-expressing cells are the only stem cells in this tissue or if there is another pool of stem cells that can also regenerate taste bud cells. For instance, there are two principal stem cell pools in intestinal epithelium: LGR5+ stem cells and Bmi+ stem cells. We want to test whether Bmi+ stem cell also exist in taste stem cells.

Keywords

taste receptors, taste stem cells, LGR5, Bmi

Wenwen Ren

Postdoctoral Fellow

Education

Ph.D., Neuroscience; Fudan University, China

Research Summary

Taste bud cells undergo constant turnover and the renewal of taste tissue is fueled by adult taste stem/progenitor cells. However, little is known about adult taste stem/progenitor cells. Leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein coupled receptor 5 (Lgr5) is a Wnt target gene and has been identified as a marker for adult stem cells in multiple tissues. Recently, our lab showed that Lgr5 also marks adult taste stem cells in posterior tongue. My research will be focused on the characterization of Lgr5+ taste stem cell using culture systems and animal models, and I am also interested in the identification of additional markers for adult taste stem cells in anterior tongue.

Keywords

taste stem cells, Lgr5, taste bud cells, CV papilla, in vitro culture

Yumei Qin

Postdoctoral Fellow

Education

Ph.D., Food Science; Zhejiang Gongshang University

Research Summary

My current research focuses on the function of taste receptors in pancreas. Combining immunohistochemical, physiological and pharmacological methods, this research may provide significant insights into how taste receptor affect hormone release of pancreas. This work has implication for understanding the effects of these sweeteners on pancreatic function in healthy subjects or those with diabetes or other metabolic disease.

Keywords

taste receptors, pancreas, endocrine function, metabolism

Casey Trimmer

Postdoctoral Fellow

Education

Ph.D., Genetics; Thomas Jefferson University

Research Summary

My research focuses on how human genetic variation in olfactory receptors influences odor perception. The human olfactory receptor family encompasses over 400 receptors, the majority of which have no established odor agonist. Using a combination of high throughput cell culture techniques specialized for olfactory receptor examination and human odor perception data, I aim to determine how genetic variation in these receptors affects both receptor activation and the perception of odors.

Brian Lewandowski

Postdoctoral Fellow

Education

Ph. D., Neuroscience; University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA

Research Summary

My research is focused on understanding the cellular and molecular basis of salty taste. There are at least two pathways underlying salty taste in mammals, distinguished by their sensitivity to the cation channel inhibitor amiloride. While much has been learned about these pathways, some important questions remain unanswered. What types of taste cells express salt taste receptors? What is the identity of the receptor/channel responsible for amiloride-insensitive salt taste? How does cell-to-cell communication within the taste bud influence salt signal transduction? My goal is to help answer these and other questions related to salt taste transduction. My experiments combine physiological analyses of taste cells using calcium imaging and electrophysiology with single cell molecular techniques to assay gene transcription.

Prior to coming to the taste field, I used in vivo electrophysiology in awake, behaving animals to study the systems and neural networks underlying vocal communication. This background in neural networks fuels my broader interest in understanding how cell-to-cell communication in the taste bud shapes taste signal transduction and mediates the perceptual interactions between different taste qualities. My focus on salty taste is motivated by evidence from perceptual and physiological studies that suggest cell-to-cell signaling plays a particularly important role in salt taste transduction.

Recent Publications

Lewandowski, B.C.; Schmidt, M.F. (2011) Short bouts of vocalization induce long-lasting fast gamma oscillations in a sensorimotor nucleus. Journal of Neuroscience, 31,13936-13948.

Gregory, J.; Boma, A.; Roy, S.; Schmidt, M.F.; Lewandowski, B.C.; Wang, X.; Najafi, K. (2009) Low cost wireless neural recording system and software. Conference Proceedings: IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, 3833-3836.

Katharine Prigge

Postdoctoral Fellow

Education

Ph.D., Chemistry; Johns Hopkins University

Research Summary

My research focuses on human body odors. We apply organic-analytical chemistry techniques along with molecular genetics and sensory evaluation methodologies to examine human odors and their relation to genetics. I am very interested in the unique relationship between the production of axillary odorants and ear wax in different ethnic groups. Recent studies link a simple change in a single gene, the ATP Binding Cassette, sub-family C, member 11 gene (ABCC11), to different types of axillary odorant and ear wax production. The ABCC11 gene encodes an ATP-driven efflux pump protein that plays an important function in ceruminous apocrine glands of the auditory canal. This protein is also expressed in apocrine sweat glands and appears to play a key role in the secretion of axillary odor precursors. Asian populations differ markedly from non-Asians in their ear wax type and underarm odor production. To date, there are no data regarding analytical analyses of earwax odorants, nor has there been a sensory comparison of any similarities between earwax and axillary odors.

Keywords

olfaction, body odors, ABCC11, genetics

Valentina Parma

Postdoctoral Fellow

Education

Ph. D., Experimental Psychology; University of Padova, Italy

Research Summary

My work has mainly focused on the study of the olfactory abilities shown by patients diagnosed with different neurological disorders (e.g., Parkinson’s disease, Autism spectrum disorder) showing various forms of motor-related impairment. Further, I explore the effects of olfactory and flavor stimulation on the motor system.

My current efforts will be devoted to the study of the mechanisms underlying body and common odor perception in stressfull situations. I will address this question by means of behavioral, electrophysiological and neuroimaging techniques.

Keywords

olfaction, Parkinson’s disease, Autism, motor system, body odors, stress response, fMRI

Recent Publications

Parma, V., Tirindelli, R., Bisazza, A., Massaccesi, S., Castiello, U. (In Press) “When subliminal odours modulates women intrasexual competition: an eye movement study” PlosOne. 7, e30645.

Parma, V., Roverato, R., Ghirardello, D., Bulgheroni, M., Tirindelli, R., Castiello, U. (2011). “When flavor guides motor control: an effector independence study.” Experimental Brain Research, 212, 339-46.

Parma, V., Ghirardello, D., Tirindelli, R., Castiello, U. (2010). “Grasping a fruit. Hands do what flavour says.” Appetite, 56, 249-54. IF: 2.844.

Parma, V., Tornasi, C., Grossi, P., Atzori, M., Perini, P., Calabrese, M., Tirindelli, R., Gallo, P., Castiello, U. (2010). “Specific smell dysfunctions in relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis.” Journal of Neurology and Neurophysiology 1:101.

Castiello, U., Zucco, G. M., Parma, V., Ansuini, C. and Tirindelli, R. (2006). “Cross-modal interactions between olfaction and vision when grasping.” Chemical Senses 31, 665-71.

Hyoung-Geol Ham

Postdoctoral Fellow

Education

Ph.D., Physiology; Hallym University, Korea

Research Summary

I am interested in the adaptation and plasticity of olfactory receptor neurons. The response that occurs following continuous stimulation (adaptation) is a feature common to all sensory neurons, including olfactory receptor neurons. Why and how does this phenomenon occur? I want to study the effect of odorant exposure on functionality and connectivity of the olfactory receptor neurons.

Keywords

olfaction, odor, transduction, ion channels, electrophysiology, neurophysiology, calcium regulation

Recent Publications

You, K.J.; Ham, H.G.; Lee, H.J.; Lang, Y.; Im, C.; Koh, C.S.; Kim, M.Y.; Shin, H.C. and Shin, H.C. (2011) “Odor Discrimination Using Neural Decoding of the Main Olfactory Bulb in Rats.” IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering. 58.5, 1208 – 1215.

Makoto Ohmoto

Postdoctoral Fellow

Education

Ph.D., Molecular Biology; University of Tokyo

Research Summary

My primary research interest is to understand mechanisms of ‘non-basic’ tastes. In addition to five basic taste qualities, humans perceive taste of fat, ‘kokumi’ substances, and other non-basic tastes. The function of about a half of taste bud cells remains unclear, and these cells could be involved in reception of these “non-basic” taste substances. I use genetical and molecular biological approaches to reveal cells and genes responsible for these tastes.

Keywords

taste, taste receptor cell, molecular biology, genetics

Recent Publications

Matsumoto, I.; Ohmoto, M.; Narukawa, M.; Yoshihara, Y. and Abe, K. (2011) “Skn-1a (Pou2f3) specifies taste receptor cell lineage.” Nature Neuroscience. 14, 685-7.

Ohmoto, M.; Okada, S.; Nakamura, S.; Abe, K. and Matsumoto, I. (2011) “Mutually exclusive expression of Gαia and Gα14 reveals diversification of taste receptor cells in zebrafish.” Journal of Comparative Neurology. 519, 1616-29.

Ohmoto, M.; Maeda, N.; Abe, K.; Yoshihara, Y.; Matsumoto, I. (2010) “Genetic tracing of the neural pathway for bitter taste in t2r5-WGA transgenic mice.” Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 400, 734-8.

Ohmoto, M.; Matsumoto, I.; Yasuoka, A.; Yoshihara, Y. and Abe, K. (2008) “Genetic tracing of the gustatory and trigeminal neural pathways originating from T1R3-expressing taste receptor cells and solitary chemoreceptor cells.” Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience. 38, 505-17.

Joel Mainland

Assistant Member

Education

Ph.D., Neuroscience, University of California, Berkeley

Research Summary

A fundamental problem in neuroscience is mapping the physical properties of a stimulus to perceptual characteristics. In vision, wavelength translates into color; in audition, frequency translates into pitch. By contrast, the mapping from chemical structure to olfactory percept is unknown. In other words, there is not a scientist or perfumer in the world who can view a novel molecular structure and predict how it will smell. My research goal is to develop a predictive model relating molecular structure and olfactory perception using a combined psychophysical and molecular approach.

Keywords

Olfaction, psychophysics, cell culture, neuroscience, genetics, behavioral analysis

Recent Publications

Lunde, K.; Egelandsdal, B.; Skuterud, E.; Mainland, J.D.; Lea, T.; Hersleth, M. & Matsunami, H. (2012) Genetic variation of an odorant receptor OR7D4 and sensory perception of cooked meat containing androstenone. PLOS ONE, 7, e35259.

McRae, J.F.; Mainland, J.D.; Jaeger, S.R.; Adipietro, K.A.; Matsunami, H.; Newcomb, R.D. (2012) Genetic variation in the odorant receptor OR2J3 is associated with the ability to detect the ‘grassy’ smelling odor, cis-3-hexen-1-ol. Chemical Senses, 37, 585-593. (*These authors contributed equally to this work)

Adipietro, K. A.; Mainland, J.D.; and Matsunami, H. (2012) Functional Evolution of Mammalian Odorant Receptors. PLoS Genetics. 8, e1002821.

Saito, H.; Chi, Q.; Zhuang, H.; Matsunami, H.; Mainland, J.D. (2009) Odor coding by a mammalian receptor repertoire. Science Signaling, 2, ra9. (*These authors contributed equally to this work)

Mainland, J.D.; Sobel, N. (2006) The sniff is part of the olfactory percept. Chemical Senses, 31, 181-196.

Mainland, J.D.; Johnson, B.N.; Khan, R.; Ivry, R.B.; Sobel, N. (2005) Olfactory impairments in patients with unilateral cerebellar lesions are selective to inputs from the contralesional nostril. The Journal of Neuroscience, 25, 6362-6371.

Mainland, J.D.; Bremner, E.A.; Young, N.; Johnson, B.N.; Khan, R.M.; Bensafi, M.; Sobel, N. (2002) Olfactory plasticity: One nostril knows what the other nostril learns. Nature, 419, 802.

Herve Kadji

Postdoctoral Fellow

Education

Ph.D., Physics; Institut de Mathématiques et de Sciences Physiques (I.M.S.P), Porto-Novo, Benin

Research Summary

I am interested in understanding at the cellular level the olfactory microcircuit of mouse. Although nitric oxide (NO) plays a paramount role in olfactory processing for vertebrates, its functions on circuits in the bulb remain unknown. Using electrophysiology and immunohistochemistry techniques, I will first focus on analyzing synaptic and neuronal signaling mediated by NO to understand its contribution(s) in olfaction. Afterwards, based on experimentally recorded data, some theoretical/computational approaches will be used to develop a realistic model of the olfactory microcircuit.

Keywords

Olfactory bulb, nitric oxide, ionic channels, electrophysiology, modeling

Janina Seubert

Postdoctoral Fellow

Education

Ph.D., Cognitive Neuroscience/Psychiatry; RWTH Aachen University

Research Summary

My research explores the integration of different stimulus features in the human brain.
In particular, I am interested in understanding how different neural systems influence each other when people evaluate the pleasantness of an object. We know that we like to eat a banana more when it actually smells like one, but how exactly do basic sensory processes and cognitive processes interact to form a unified perception of a multisensory object?

And how does our emotional experience of the outside world change when the balance between these integration processes is disturbed, for example in psychiatric illness?

To study these questions, I use behavioral testing and functional magnetic resonance imaging in healthy populations and patients with schizophrenia. Here at Monell, I will also begin to use Electroencephalography to investigate the timing of different brain processes related to multisensory integration through event-related potentials (ERP).

Ultimately, I hope that increasing our understanding of the processes underlying feature integration in emotional processing will help to develop targeted therapeutic approaches for disorders where these mechanisms are disturbed, helping to enhance emotional experience and expression.

Keywords

Olfaction, fMRI, Multisensory Integration, Emotion, Schizophrenia

Recent Publications

Seubert J, Kellermann T, Loughead J, Boers F, Brensinger C, Schneider F, Habel U. (2010) Processing of disgusted faces is facilitated by odor primes: a functional MRI study. Neuroimage, 53(2):746-56.

Seubert J, Loughead J, Kellermann T, Boers F, Brensinger CM, Habel U. (2010) Multisensory integration of emotionally valenced olfactory-visual information in patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls. J Psychiatry Neurosci, 35(3):185-94.

Seubert J, Rea AF, Loughead J, Habel U (2009) Mood induction with olfactory stimuli reveals differential affective responses in males and females. Chem Senses, 34(1):77-84.

Sunil Kumar Sukumaran

Post-doctoral Fellow

Education

Ph.D., Genetics; University of Cologne, Germany

Research Summary

My work at Monell aims at understanding taste sensation with a focus on sweet taste. We believe there are alternate mechanisms for sweet taste sensation in addition to the one involving T1R2/T1R3 genes. We are studying these genes to see if they are present in the sweet taste cells and further to find out what role(s) they play in these cells. In addition, we are also doing experiments to identify all the genes expressed in taste cells using microarrays and deep sequencing using RNA amplified from single taste cells. Interesting genes identified by the above experiments will be studied further using molecular, knockout and/or transgenic approaches. We hope that these studies will help us design improved non-caloric sweeteners, provide a better understanding of nutrient sensing in the tongue and beyond and ultimately, treat metabolic disorders like diabetes and obesity.

Keywords

Sweet taste, molecular biology, single cell genetics, deep sequencing

Gisela Epple

Member Emeritus

Education

Ph.D., Zoology; Johann Wolfgang Goethe University (Germany)

Research Summary

My research has centered on the role of chemical signals in the control of mammalian behavior. My early work at Monell was done with primates. It concentrated on body odors produced by specialized skin glands as social signals that influence reproductive success and dominance relationships. Later, I became interested in the role of associative odor learning during human development. My research also investigated the efficacy of ambient odors associated to positive or negative emotional events to modify cognitive performance, taste persistence and social behavior of children. I also collaborated with several USDA scientists at Monell in studies concerned with predator-derived chemical signals on the behavior of their prey in an effort to screen possible natural repellents for wildlife.

Sarah Lipchock

Postdoctoral Fellow

Education

Ph.D., Biophysical Chemistry; Yale University

Research Summary

Humans are born with an innate aversion to bitter taste, which is not surprising because many naturally occurring bitter compounds are toxic. However, there are many bitter foods and drinks that are well tolerated and can be quite beneficial when consumed. While there are many factors that determine how an individual will respond to bitter taste, genetics play an essential role. Drs. Reed and Mennella have shown that this sensitivity to bitter changes in individuals with certain genotypes, such that adults are much less sensitive than children.

I am interested in the molecular mechanisms underlying differences in bitter taste perception among individuals with the same genotype. One possible source of these differences is the epigenetic changes made to DNA over the course of a lifetime. I am studying these differences in human bitter taste genes (TAS2Rs) and how epigenetics can affect transcription of TAS2Rs in taste cells. I am also combining my genetic studies with psychophysical testing to confirm our hypothesis that expression of TAS2Rs is directly related to bitterness perception. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying bitter sensitivity could lead to new ways to improve consumption of nutritious, yet bitter foods.

Keywords

bitter taste, psychophysics, molecular biology, genetics, epigenetics

Rocky Parker

Postdoctoral Fellow

Education

Ph.D., Zoology (Endocrinology/Chemical Ecology); Oregon State University

Research Summary

As a member of the Margolskee laboratory here at Monell, I am primarily interested in the interaction between endocrine signals and the chemical senses. Specifically, I study the role that steroid hormones play in the production and perception of chemical signals. My previous research revealed which sex hormones regulate pheromone expression in a reptile model, but I am now using molecular techniques in the mouse model to determine whether and by what mechanisms steroid hormones affect the taste system, especially sweet- and umami-sensing type 2 taste cells. I integrate multiple techniques (RT-PCR, western blot, immunohistochemistry, taste bioassays) and use transgenic mouse lines (T1r3- and TrpM5-GFP, various GPCR and nuclear receptor knockouts) to reveal how steroid signaling regulates the biology of type 2 taste cells.

Taste is a sense that is intimately associated with the human experience, and dysfunction in this chemical sense can affect quality of life. Many medications affecting steroid synthesis and signaling can induce taste dysfunction, suggesting that the taste bud relies on steroid signaling for its proper function. Further, the sense of taste in humans declines with age and reflects hormonal state. Insight gained from my research will inform the fields of gustation, diabetes, obesity, and geriatrics.

Keywords

taste, hormones, taste receptors, T1r2, T1r3, TrpM5, Tas1r2. Tas1r3, molecular biology, mouse, immunohistochemistry, PCR

Recent Publications

Rowland, H.; Parker, M.R.; Reed, D.R.; Jiang, P.; Beauchamp, G.K. (In press) Comparative taste behavior. In: Doty, R. (Ed.) Handbook of Olfaction and Gustation.

Ellis, H.T.; Tordoff, M.T.; Parker, M.R. (2012) Ltpr3 is responsible for the mouse tufted (tf) locus. Journal of Heredity, 104, 295-297.

Parker, M.R.; Mason, R.T. (2012) How to make a sexy snake: estrogen activation of sex pheromone production in male garter snakes. Journal of Experimental Biology,215, 723-730.

Parker, M.R.; Mason, R.T. (2011) Pheromones in snakes: history, patterns and future research directions. In: Aldrigde, D.; Sever, D. (Eds.) Reproductive Biology and Phylogeny of Snakes. CRC Press: Boca Raton, FL. 551-572.

Mason, R.T.; Parker, M.R. (2010) Social behavior and pheromonal communication in reptiles. Journal of Comparative Physiology A: Neuroethology, Sensory, Neural, and Behavioral Physiology 196, 729-749.

Anna Voznesenskaya

Postdoctoral Fellow

Education

Ph.D., Physiology & Bioinformatics; Institute for Information Transmission of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia

Research Summary

My scientific interests cover the broad field of physiology and genetics in mammals with a current focus on calcium taste and mineral appetite. The main question I am trying to answer is: “How do animals consume appropriate amounts of minerals?” To discover the mechanisms underlying taste preferences and mineral intake I use a wide range of behavioral, physiological and genetic techniques. One ongoing project involves identifying the genes responsible for the taste of calcium and other minerals in rats. Another involves assessing how calcium consumption waxes and wanes during the estrus cycle.

Keywords

taste, genetics, ingestive behavior, calcium

Michele Dibattista

Postdoctoral Fellow

Education

Ph. D., Neuroscience; International School for Advanced Studies (ISAS/SISSA), Trieste, Italy

Research Summary

In olfaction, the sensitivity of olfactory receptor neurons must allow for detection of signals at behaviorally relevant concentrations and the time course of the response must reliably code changes in odor concentration. My research focuses on the kinetics of vertebrate olfactory signal transduction and how temporal aspects of the odorant-induced response is controlled at the level of olfactory receptor neurons. I will address this question using electrophysiological and immunohistochemical techniques as well as genetically-modified mouse models.

Keywords

olfaction, odor, transduction, ion channels, electrophysiology, neurophysiology, calcium regulation

Recent Publications

Pifferi S*, Dibattista M*, Sagheddu C, Boccaccio A, Al Qteishat A, Ghirardi F, Tirindelli R, Menini A. Calcium-activated chloride currents in olfactory sensory neurons from mice lacking bestrophin-2. J Physiol. 2009 Sep 1;587(Pt 17):4265-79. *These authors contributed equally to this work

Tirindelli R, Dibattista M, Pifferi S, Menini A. From Pheromones to behavior
Physiol Rev. 2009 Jul;89(3):921-56.

Pifferi S, Dibattista M, Menini A. TMEM16B induces chloride currents activated by calcium in mammalian cells. Pflugers Arch. 2009. Epub 2009, May 28.

Dibattista M, Mazzatenta A, Grassi F, Tirindelli R, Menini A. Hyperpolarizationactivated cyclic nucleotide-gated channels in mouse vomeronasal sensory neurons.
J Neurophysiol. 2008 Aug;100(2):576-86.

Corcelli A, Lobasso S, Lopalco P, Dibattista M, Araneda R, Peterlin Z, Firestein S. Detection of explosives by olfactory sensory neurons, J. Hazard. Mater. (2009), doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2009.10.05

Yan Li

Postdoctoral Fellow

Education

Ph.D., Physiology and Biophysics; Virginia Commonwealth University

Research Summary

My current research is focused on the role of taste signaling proteins in gut. Combining cellular, physiological and pharmacological methods, this research may provide significant insights into how enteroendocrine cells sense micronutrients and tastants and regulation of these taste signaling elements in gut may have a potential therapeutic effect for metabolic disease.

Keywords

sweet taste, gastrointestinal chemosensation, signaling transduction, metabolism

Bedrich Mosinger

Senior Research Associate

Education

M.D., Charles University (Prague, Czech Republic)
Ph.D. Genetics; Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences

Research Summary

I am interested in the role of taste signaling proteins outside of the taste system: in nutrition, metabolism and endocrine system. I also have a long-term interest in experimental genetics – in developing genetic models to study function of genes.

Keywords

genetics, molecular biology, endocrine function, metabolism, signaling molecules

Recent Publications

Yamashita, N; Mosinger, B.; Roy, A.; Miyazaki, M.; Ugajin, K.; Nakamura, F.; Sasaki, K.; Yamaguchi, K.; Kolattukudy, P. and Goto, A. (2011) “CRMP5 (collapsin response mediator protein 5) regulates dendritic development and synaptic plasticity in the cerebellar Purkinje cells.” Journal of Neuroscience. 35.5, 1773-79.

Kokrashvili, Z.; Mosinger, B. and Margolskee, R. F. (2009) “Taste signaling elements expressed in gut enteroendocrine cells regulate nutrient-responsive secretion of gut hormones.” American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 90.3, 822S-5S.

Kokrashvili, Z.; Rodriguez, D.; Yevshayeva, V.; Zhou, H.; Margolskee, R. F. and Mosinger, B. (2009) “Release of endogenous opioids from duodenal enteroendocrine cells requires Trpm5.” Gastroenterology. 137.2, 598-606.

Kokrashvili, Z.; Mosinger, B. and Margolskee, R. F. “T1r3 and alpha-gustducin in gut regulate secretion of glucagon-like peptide-1.” Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 1170, 91-94.

Maillet, E. L.; Margolskee, R. F. and Mosinger, B. (2009) “Phenoxy herbicides and fibrates potently inhibit the human chemosensory receptor subunit T1R3.” Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. 12, 6931-35.

Damak, S.; Mosinger, B. and Margolskee, R. F. (2008) “Transsynaptic transport of wheat germ agglutinin expressed in a subset of type II taste cells of transgenic mice.” BMC Neuroscience. 9, 96.

Tordoff, M. G.; Shao, H.; Alarcón, L. K.; Margolskee, R. F.; Mosinger, B.; Bachmanov, A. A.; Reed, D. R. and McCaughey, S. A. (2008) “Involvement of T1R3 in calcium-magnesium taste.” Physiological Genomics. 34.3, 338-48.

Jang, H. J.; Kokrashvili, Z.; Theodorakis, M. J.; Carlson, O. D.; Kim, B. J.; Zhou, J.; Kim, H. H.; Xu, X.; Chan, S. L.; Juhaszova, M.; Bernier, M.; Mosinger, B.; Margolskee, R. F. and Egan, J. M. (2007) “Gut-expressed gustducin and taste receptors regulate secretion of glucagon-like peptide-1.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA. 104.38, 15069-74.

Margolskee, R. F.; Dyer, J.; Kokrashvili, Z.; Salmon, K. S.; Ilegems, E.; Daly, K.; Maillet, E. L.; Ninomiya, Y.; Mosinger, B. and Shirazi-Beechey, S. P. (2007) “T1R3 and gustducin in gut sense sugars to regulate expression of Na+-glucose cotransporter 1.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA. 104.38, 15075-80.

Robert Margolskee

Associate Director & Member

Education

M.D., Ph.D., Molecular Genetics; Johns Hopkins University

Research Summary

Dr. Margolskee’s long-standing research focus is on the molecular mechanisms of taste transduction, utilizing molecular biology, biochemistry, structural biology, electrophysiology and transgenesis to study the mechanisms of signal transduction in mammalian taste cells. More recently he has been studying the chemosensory functions of taste signaling proteins in gut and pancreatic endocrine cells. Other project in the Margolskee lab are taste stem cells and endocrine properties of taste cells.

Keywords

taste receptor, molecular biology, gastrointestinal chemosensation, transduction, taste signalling proteins, endocrine function, stem cells

Recent Publications

Yee, K.K.; Li, Y.; Redding, K.M.; Iwatsuki, K.; Margolskee, R.F.; Jiang, P. (2013) Lgr5-EGFP Marks Taste Bud Stem/Progenitor Cells in Posterior Tongue. Stem Cells. doi:10.1002/stem.1338.

Li, Y.; Kokrashvili, Z.; Mosinger, B.; Margolskee, R.F. (2013) Gustducin couples fatty acid receptors to GLP-1 release in colon. American Journal of Physiology, Endocrinology and Metabolism. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.00471.2012

Glendinning, J.I.; Gillman, J.; Zamer, H.; Margolskee, R.F.; Sclafani, A. (2012) The role of T1r3 and Trpm5 in carbohydrate-induced obesity in mice. Physiology and Behavior, 107, 50-58.

Yee, K.K.; Sukumaran, S.K.; Kotha, R.; Gilbertson, T.A.; Margolskee, R.F. (2011) Glucose transporters and atp-gated k+ (katp) metabolic sensors are present in type 1 taste receptor 3 (t1r3)-expressing taste cells. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, 108, 5431-5436.

Ilegems, E.; Iwatsuki, K.; Kokrashvili, Z.; Outhiriaradjou, B.; Ninomiya, Y.; Margolskee, R.F. (2010) REEP2 enhances sweet receptor function by recruitment to lipid rafts. Journal of Neuroscience, 30, 13774-13783.

Murata, Y.; Yasuo, T.; Yoshida, R.; Obata, K.; Yanagawa, Y.; Margolskee, R.F.; Ninomiya, Y. (2010) Action potential-enhanced ATP release from taste cells through hemichannels. Neurophysiology, 104, 896-901.

Reed, D.R.;Margolskee, R.F. (2010) Gustation genetics: Sweet gustducin! Chemical Senses, 35, 549-550.

Yoshida, R.; Okhuri, T.; Jyotaki, M.; Yasuo, T.; Horio, N.; Yasumatsu, K.; Sanematsu, K.; Shigemura, N.; Yanamato, T.; Margolskee, R.F.; Ninomiya, Y. (2010) Endocannabinoids selectively enhance sweet taste.”Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, 107, 935-939.

Kokrashvili, Z.; Mosinger, B.; Margolskee, R.F. (2009) Taste signaling elements expressed in gut enteroendocrine cells regulate nutrient-responsive secretion of gut hormones.American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 90.3, 822S-5S.

Kokrashvili, Z.; Rodriguez, D.; Yevshayeva, V.; Zhou, H.; Margolskee, R.F.; Mosinger, B. (2009) Release of endogenous opioids from duodenal enteroendocrine cells requires Trpm5.Gastroenterology, 137.2, 598-606.

Maillet, E.L.; Margolskee, R.F., Mosinger, B. (2009) Phenoxy herbicides and fibrates potently inhibit the human chemosensory receptor subunit T1R3. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 12, 6931-35.

Peihua Jiang

Assistant Member

Education

Ph.D., Neurobiology; University of Pittsburgh

Research Summary

Until recently, it was thought that all mammals can detect the five basic tastes that humans can. Our work and others have showed that there are many exceptions to this general belief. Many mammalian species show specific taste loss due to the pseudogenization of taste receptor genes and loss of taste receptor function appears directly related to a change in diet. Understanding the precise relationship among taste receptor structure, dietary choice and the associated metabolic pathways constitutes one of my two main research interests.

The other line of my research aims to study adult taste stem cells. Taste cells regenerate constantly during an animal’s life, yet the identity of adult taste stem cells for replenishing taste epithelium remains elusive. I am interested in identifying reliable markers for adult taste stem cells and characterizing such cells subsequently. Current research projects include: 1) structure-function analysis of the mammalian sweet taste receptor T1R2/T1R3; 2) comparative genetics of sweet taste and carbohydrate metabolism in Carnivora; and 3) identification and characterization of adult taste stem cells. We utilize a broad range of approaches in these studies, including molecular, genetic, cellular, computational and imaging techniques.

Keywords

Taste receptor, taste preferences, feeding behavior, carbohydrate metabolism, adult stem cells

Recent Publications

Yee, K.K.; Li, Y.; Redding, K.M.; Iwatsuki, K.; Margolskee, R.F.; Jiang, P. (2013) Lgr5-EGFP marks taste bud stem/progenitor cells in posterior tongue. Stem Cells. doi: 10.1002/stem.1338. [Epub ahead of print]

Lee, R.J.; Xiong, G.; Kofonow, J.M.; Chen, B.; Lysenko, A.; Jiang, P.; et al. (2012) T2R28 taste receptor polymorphisms underlie susceptibility to upper respiratory infection. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 122, 4145-59.

Tordoff, M.G.; Alarcon, L.K.; Valmeki, S.; Jiang, P. (2012) T1R3: a human calcium taste receptor. Science Reports, 2, 496.

Jiang, P.; Josue, J., Li, X.; Glaser, D.; et al. (2012) Reply to Zhao and Zhang: Loss of taste receptor function in mammals is directly related to feeding specializations. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA, 109, E1465-E1465.

Jiang, P.; Josue, J.; Li, X.; Glaser, D.; et al. (2012) Major taste loss in carnivorous mammals. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA, 109, 4956-4961.

Liu, B.; Ha, M.; Meng, X.Y.; Kaur, T.; Khaleduzzaman, M.; Zhang, Z.; Jiang, P.; Li, X.; Cui, M. (2011) Molecular mechanism of species-dependent sweet taste toward artificial sweeteners. Journal of Neuroscience, 31, 11070-11076.

Cui, M.; Jiang, P.; Maillet, E.L.; Max, M.; Margolskee, R.F.; Osman, R. (2008) Molecular models of sweet taste receptors provide insights into function. In: Weerasinghe, D.K. & DuBois, G.E. (Eds.) Sweetness and sweeteners : biology, chemistry, and psychophysics. American Chemical Society, 117-132.

Jiang, P.; Cui, M.; Maillet, E.L.; Osman, R.; Max, M.; Margolskee, R.F. (2008) Making sense of the sweet taste receptor. In: Sweetness and sweeteners: biology, chemistry, and psychophysics. Weerasinghe, D.K. & DuBois, G.E. (Eds.), American Chemical Society, pp. 48-64.

Li, D.F.; Jiang, P.; Zhu, D.Y.; Hu, Y.; Max, M.; Wang, D.C. (2008) Crystal structure of Mabinlin II: a novel structural type of sweet proteins and the main structural basis for its sweetness. Journal of Structural Biology, 162, 50-62.

Bruce Bryant

Senior Research Associate

Education

Ph.D., Sensory Biology; Boston University

Research Summary

Chemical irritants, both noxious (e.g., tear gas or hot pepper) and mild (e.g., menthol or carbonation), act on pain as well as thermal and tactile receptors. I use fluorescence imaging of intracellular calcium in conjunction with cytochemical labeling techniques to characterize the transduction processes and coding mechanisms involved in chemical irritation and modulation of thermal and tactile sensitivities. While these studies focus mostly on the role of neuronal responses, there is growing evidence that non-neuronal cells of the skin and mucous membranes play an active role in sensation. We are also currently performing parallel physiological and psychophysical experiments to directly relate physiological mechanisms to sensation. In addition to contributing to our basic understanding of sensory physiology and interactions between different sensory-active chemical stimuli, knowledge of these mechanisms has applications ranging from foods and beverages to pharmaceuticals and personal care products.

Keywords

irritation, somatosensation, chemesthesis, trigeminal, fluorescence calcium imaging, neurophysiology, transduction, inflammation, paresthesia, BMS

Recent Publications

Peyrot des Gachons, C; Uchida, K.; Bryant, B. P.; Shima, A.; Sperry, J. B.; Dankulich-Nagrudny, L.; Tominaga, M.; Smith, A. B. III; Beauchamp, G. K. and Breslin, P. A. S. (2011) “Unusual pungency from extra-virgin olive oil is attributable to restricted spatial expression of the receptor of oleocanthal.” Journal of Neuroscience. 31.3, 999-1009.

Bryant, B. P.; Xu, J.; Audige, V.; Lischka, F. W. and Rawson, N. E. (2010) “Cellular basis for the olfactory response to nicotine.” ACS Chemical Neuroscience. 1, 246-56.

Inoue, T. and Bryant, B. P. (2010) “Multiple cation channels mediate increases in intracellular calcium induced by the volatile irritant, trans-2-pentenal in rat trigeminal neurons.” Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology. 30, 35-41.

Borgmann-Winter, K.; Rawson, N. E.; Wang, H. Y.; Wang, H.; MacDonald, M. L.; Ozdener, M. H.; Yee, K. K.; Gomez, G.; Xu, J.; Bryant, B. P.; Adamek, G.; Mirza, N.; Pribitkin, E. A. and Hahn, C. G. (2009) “Human olfactory epithelial cells generated in vitro express diverse neuronal characteristics.” Neuroscience. 158, 642-53.

Bryant, B. P. (2005) “Mechanisms of somatosensory neuronal sensitivity to alkaline pH.” Chemical Senses. 30. Suppl. 1, i196-i197.

Inoue, T. and Bryant, B. P. (2005) “Multiple types of sensory neurons respond to irritating volatile organic compounds (VOCs): Calcium fluorimetry of trigeminal ganglion neurons.” Pain. 117, 193-203.

Epple, G. A.; Bryant, B. P.; Mezine, I. and Lewis, S. (2004) “Zanthoxylum piperitum (DC), a potential feeding deterrent for mammals: studies with Microtus ochrogaster (Wagner).” Pest Management Science. 60, 624-30.

Catherine Peyrot Des Gachons

Research Associate

Education

Ph.D., Medical and Food Sciences; University of Bordeaux

Research Summary

My research interests are human oral perception, its genetic basis and its implications in nutrition and health. Somatosensation, such as irritation and mouthfeel, is my main current focus through the study of natural products like wine, olive oil and spices. I am using several techniques to investigate the field of somatosensation, including molecular biology, cellular calcium imaging and psychophysics.

Keywords

chemesthesis, mouthfeel, fluorescent calcium imaging, psychophysics, analytical chemistry, sensory transduction, oxidative stress, inflammation-related diseases

Recent Publications

Peyrot des Gachons, C.; Beauchamp, G. K.; Stern, R.M.; Koch, K. L. and Breslin, P. A. S. (2011). “Bitter taste induces nausea.” Current Biology. 21.7, R247-8.

Peyrot des Gachons, C.; Uchida, K., Bryant, B., Shima, A., Sperry, J. B., Dankulich-Nagrudny, L., Tominaga, M., Smith, A. B. III, Beauchamp, G. K. and Breslin, P. A. S. (2011). “Unusual pungency from extra-virgin olive oil is attributable to restricted spatial expression of the receptor of oleocanthal.” Journal of Neuroscience. 31.3, 999-1009.

Mandel, A. L.; Peyrot des Gachons, C.; Plank, K. L.; Alarcon, S. and Breslin, P. A. S. (2010). “Individual Differences in AMY1 Gene Copy Number, Salivary α-Amylase Levels, and the Perception of Oral Starch.” PLoS ONE. 5, e13352.

Peyrot des Gachons, C.; Beauchamp, G. K. and Breslin, P. A. S. (2009). “The genetics of bitterness and pungency detection and its impact on phytonutrient evaluation.” International Symposium on Olfaction and Taste: Annual of the New York Academy of Science. 1170, 140-144.

Peyrot des Gachons, C. and Breslin P. A. S. (2009). “Chemosensory perception.” Food Science & Technology. 23.2.

Kennedy, J.; Ferrier, J.; Harbertson, J. and Peyrot des Gachons, C. (2006). “Analysis of tannins in red wines using multiple methods: Correlation with perceived astringency.” American Journal of Enology and Viticulture. 57.4, 481-485.

Nataliya Bosak

Research Associate

Education

Ph.D., Biological Sciences; All Russian Research Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding

Research Summary

My research at Monell concentrates on using genetic, bioinformatic and molecular biological approaches to identify gene(s) that are involved in taste sensitivity.

Recent Publications

Inoue, M., Glenndinning, J. I., Theodorides, M., Harkness, S., Li, X., Bosak, N. et al. (2008). Allelic variation of the Tas1r3 taste recptor gene selectively affects taste responses to sweeteners: evidence from 129.B6-Tas1r3 congenic mice. Physiological Genomics, 32, 82-94.

Cailu Lin

Research Associate

Education

Ph.D., Animal Genetics; Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Uniersity of Bonn, Germany

Research Summary

My research currently focuses on the genetic analysis of mouse ingestive behavoir. This behavior is complex and depends on taste, postingestive factors, assciation learning and other physiological mechanisms. The ultimate goal of my studies is to positionally clone genes that are involved in the complex trait of ingestive behavoir, and to explain physiological mechanisms underlying human diseases that are influenced by ingestive behavior, such as obesity, diabetes, anorexia, alcohol addiction, cardiovascular disease, etc. To achieve this goal, we breed various biologically- engeering mouse lines to identify, and subsently elucidate the genetic variations including spontaneous alleles and chemically-induced mutations with a combination of physiological, molecular and quantitative genetic approaches.

Jie Ma

Research Associate

Education

M.D., Wuhan University, School of Medicine
M.S., Wuhan university, School of Medicine
Ph.D., Huazhong University of Science & Technology, School of Medicine

Research Summary

My background is in cardiology. My recent work has been focused on understanding the alterations in ionic conductances and gene expression in cardiac myocytes, associated with myocardial infarction. I am extending my interests to cellular neurophysiology, studying the vertebrate olfactory pathway as a model system. My research is applying patch clamp and optical methods to investigate voltage and calcium signaling in neurons of the olfactory bulb. The goal is to understand how these signals regulate synaptic transmission during odor information processing.

Keywords

olfaction, neurophysiology

Recent Publications

Ma, J. and Lowe, G. (2010). Correlated firing in tufted cells of mouse olfactory bulb. Neuroscience, 169, 1715-1738.

McQuade, L.E., Ma, J., Lowe, G., Ghatpande A., Gelperin A., Lippard, S.J. (2010) Visualization of nitric oxide production in the mouse main olfactory bulb by a cell-trappable copper (II) fluorescent probe. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 107, 8525-8530.

Lowe, G., Buerk, D. G., Ma, J., & Gelperin, A. (2008). Tonic and stimulus-evoked nitric oxide production in the mouse olfactory bulb. Neuroscience, 153, 842-850.

Ma, J. & Lowe, G. (2007). Calcium permeable AMPA receptors and autoreceptors in external tufted cells of rat olfactory bulb. Neuroscience, 144, 1094-1108.

Ma, J. & Lowe, G. (2004). Action potential backpropagation and multiglomerular signaling in the rat vomeronasal system. Journal of Neuroscience, 24, 9341-9352.

Jiang Xu

Research Associate

Education

M.D., Medicine; Beijing Medical Staff College

Research Summary

My current project mainly focuses on studying cellular responses to volatile chemical stimuli. I use fluorescence imaging of intracellular calcium and pharmacological agents to characterize the transduction processes in live olfactory and trigeminal neurons.

Recent Publications

Borgmann-Winter, K., Rawson, N. E., Wang, H.-Y., Wang, H., MacDonald, M. L., Ozdener, M. H. et al. (2009). Human olfactory epithelial cells generated in vitro express diverse neuronal characteristics. Neuroscience, 158, 642-653.

Pu Feng

Research Associate

Education

Ph.D., Immunology; Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Peking Union Medical College

Research Summary

I have a great interest in studying the pathogenesis and mechanisms of chemosensory impairment related to various human diseases at both cellular and molecular levels. My specific interests include: 1) the role of various inflammatory molecules in olfactory loss in patients with chronic nasal diseases, and 2) the role of inflammation in radiotherapy-induced taste loss in patients of head-neck cancers, with the major goal to identify new approaches to prevent or treat disease-related human chemosensory impairment. Many techniques are used, including tissue culture, cytochemistry, immunohistochemistry, and gene expression.

Keywords

inflammation, immune assay, ELISA, PCR, taste disorder, smell disorder, immunohistochemistry, cell biology

Recent Publications

Feng P, Wang H, Feldman RS, Pribitkin EA, Breslin PA. (2010). The T cells in peripheral taste tissue of healthy human adults: predominant memory T cells and th-1 cells. Chem Senses. Jul;35(6):501-9. Epub 2010 May 9.

Yee KK, Pribitkin EA, Cowart BJ, Vainius AA, Klock CT, Rosen D, Feng P, McLean J, Hahn CG, Rawson NE. (2010). Neuropathology of the olfactory mucosa in chronic rhinosinusitis. Am J Rhinol Allergy. Mar;24(2):110-20

Yee KK, Pribitkin EA, Cowart BJ, Rosen D, Feng P, Rawson NE. (2009). Analysis of the olfactory mucosa in chronic rhinosinusitis. Ann N Y Acad Sci. Jul;1170:590-5

Feng P, Yee KK, Rawson NE, Feldman LM, Feldman RS, Breslin PA. (2009). Immune cells of the human peripheral taste system: dominant dendritic cells and CD4 T cells.Brain Behav Immun. Aug;23(6):760-6. Epub 2009 Mar 4.

Ichiro Matsumoto

Assistant Member

Education

Ph.D., Molecular Biology; University of Tokyo

Research Summary

My primary research interest is the coding mechanism of taste modality, specifically whether gustatory neurons are heterogeneous or homogeneous. Also, I am interested in the turnover of taste receptor cells and establishment and maintenance of peripheral gustatory wiring between taste receptor cells and gustatory neurons.

Keywords

Taste, Development, Differentiation, Diversity, Evolution

Recent Publications

Taruno, A.; Vingtdeux, V.; Ohmoto, M.; Ma, Z.; Dvoryanchikov, G.; Li, A.; Adrian, L.; Zhao, H.; Leung, S.; Abernethy, M.; Koppel, J.; Davies, P.; Civan, M.M.; Chaudhari, N.; Matsumoto, I.; et al. (In Press) CALHM1 ion channel mediates purinergic neurotransmission of sweet, bitter and umami tastes. Nature.

Yamamoto, K.; Ishimaru, Y.; Ohmoto, M.; Matsumoto, I.; Asakura, T.; Abe, K. (2011) Genetic tracing of the gustatory neural pathways originating from PKD1L3-expressing type III taste cells in circumvallate and foliate papillae. Journal of Neurochemistry, 119, 497-506.

Enomoto, T.; Ohmoto, M.; Iwata, T.; Uno, A.; Saitou, M.; Yamaguchi, T.; Kominami, R.; Matsumoto, I..; Hirota, J. (2011) Bcl11b/Ctip2 controls the differentiation of vomeronasal sensory neurons in mice. Journal of Neuroscience, 31, 10159-10173.

Matsumoto, I.; Ohmoto, M.; Narukawa, M.; Yoshihara, Y.; Abe, K. (2011) Skn-1a/Pou2f3 specifies taste receptor cell lineage. Nature Neuroscience, 14, 685-687.

Ohmoto, M.; Okada, S.; Nakamura, S.; Abe, K.; Matsumoto, I. (2011) Mutually exclusive expression of Gaia and Ga14 reveals diversification of taste receptor cells in zebrafish. Journal of Comparative Neurology, 519, 1616-1629.

Matsumoto, I. (2011) Cell fate specification to sweet, umami, and bitter taste receptor cells by Skn-1a. Experimental Medicine, 29, 2661-2664.

Matsumoto, I. (2009) Genetic tracing of gustatory neural pathway. Japanese Journal of Taste and Smell Research, 16, 125-131.

Yamashita, H.; Nakagawa, K.; Hosoi, Y.; Kurokawa, A.; Fukuda, Y.; Matsumoto, I.; Misaka, T.; Abe, K. (2009) Umami taste dysfunction in patients receiving radiotherapy for head and neck cancer. Oral Oncology, 45, e19-23.

Matsumoto, I.; Ohmoto, M.; Yasuoka, A.; Yoshihara, Y.; Abe, K. (2009) Genetic tracing of the gustatory neural pathway originating from T1R3-expressing sweet/umami taste receptor cells. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1170, 46-50.

Ohmoto, M.; Matsumoto, I.; Yasuoka, A.; Yoshihara, Y.; Abe, K. (2008) Genetic tracing of the gustatory and trigeminal neural pathways originating from T1R3-expressing taste receptor cells and solitary chemoreceptor cells. Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, 38, 505-517.

Karen Yee

Research Associate

Education

Ph.D., Physiology; Virginia Commonwealth University

Research Summary

My research interest is in neural regeneration and the plasticity of the mammalian olfactory system. The focus is on identifying the cellular mechanisms and biochemical factors that mediate and promote repair and recovery of sensory neurons. Various behavioral, morphological, and immunohistochemical methods are used to examine olfactory regeneration in both human and animal models of various injuries (i.e., head trauma), chemical exposures and disease-related olfactory loss. This work has implications for understanding ways to promote neuronal regeneration not only in the olfactory system but also in the central nervous system.

Keywords

olfactory, regeneration, neuroscience, behavior

Recent Publications

Borgmann-Winter, K., Rawson, N. E., Wang, H.-Y., Wang, H., MacDonald, M. L., Ozdener, M. H. et al. (2009). Human olfactory epithelial cells generated in vitro express diverse neuronal characteristics. Neuroscience, 158, 642-653.

Feng, P., Yee, K. K., Rawson, N. E., Feldman, L. M., Feldman, R. S., & Breslin, P. A. S. (2009, electronic publication). Immune cells of the human peripheral taste system: Dominant dendritic cells and CD4 T cells. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. doi:10.1016/j.bbi.2009.02.016

Lischka, F. W., Gomez, G., Yee, K. K., Dankulich-Nagrudny, L., Lo, L., Haskins, M. E. et al. (2008). Altered olfactory epithelial structure and function in feline models of mucopolysaccharidoses I and VI. Journal of Comparative Neurology, 511, 360-372.

Ozdener, M. H., Yee, K. K., Cao, J., Brand, J. G., Teeter, J. H., & Rawson, N. E. (2006). Characterization and long term maintenance of rat taste cells in culture. Chemical Senses, 31, 279-290.

Rawson, N. E. & Yee, K. K. (2006). Transduction and coding. Hummel, T. and Welge-Lüssen, A. Taste and Smell. An Update. Advances in Otorhinolaryngology 63, 23-43. Basel, Karger Press. Advances in Otorhinolaryngology.

Yee, K. K. & Rawson, N. E. (2005). Immunolocalization of retinoic acid receptors in the mammalian olfactory system and the effects of olfactory denervation on receptor distribution. Neuroscience, 131, 733-743.

M. Hakan Ozdener

Research Associate

Education

M.D., Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey
Ph.D., Biochemistry; Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun Turkey, -ICGEB, New Delhi India
MPH, (Public Health); Temple University

Research Summary

My primary research focuses on the development of in vitro chemosensory cell culture systems for the study of chemosensory biology and disorders. I utilize chemosensory cells obtained from human and from rodent to examine the factors involved in differentiation and maturation and to better understand how chemosensory receptor cells interact in their responses to stimuli. This work will enable us to develop and characterize novel tastent and new therapeutic targets to promote regeneration following injury from surgery, radiation, toxic exposures or deterioration due to aging or neurodegenerative disease.

Keywords

taste cell, olfactory cells, development, cell culture, chemosensory cells and infection

Recent Publications

Ozdener, M.H.; Rawson, N.E. (Electronic Citation) Primary culture of mammalian taste epithelium. Methods in Molecular Biology. doi: 10.1007/978-1-62703-125-7_7.

Rawson, N.E.; Ozdener, M.H. (Electronic Citation) Primary culture of the human olfactory neuroepithelium. Methods in Molecular Biology.
doi: 10.1007/978-1-62703-125-7_6.

Ozdener, M.H. (2012) Fishing for flavors: Where and how. Nature. (Electronic Citation) doi:10.1038/486S14a

Ozdener, M.H.; Spielman, A.I.; Rawson, N.E. (2012) Isolation and culture of human fungiform taste papillae cells. Journal of Visual Experiments. (Electronic Citation) doi: 10.3791/3730

Ozdener, M.H.; Rawson, N.E. (2012) Exogenous EGF and BDNF treatment triggered cultured taste cell differentiation and proliferation. Turkish Journal Medical Sciences, 42, 1-14.

Ozdener, M.H.; Rawson, N.E. (2011) Culture and maintenance of taste cells in vitro. In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology – Animal, 47, 513-514.

Ozdener, M.H.; Brand, J.G.; Spielman, A.; Lischka, F.W.; Teeter, J.H.; Breslin, P.; Rawson, N.E. (2011) Method for long term primary culture of human fungiform taste bud cells in culture. Chemical Senses, 36, 601-612.

Jaén, C.; Ozdener, M.H., Reisert, J. (2011) Mechanisms of chloride uptake in frog olfactory receptor neurons. Journal of Comparative Physiology A, Neuroethology, Sensory, Neural, & Behavioral Physiology, 197, 339-349.

Mandel, A.L.; Ozdener, M.H.; Utermohlen, V. (2011) Brain-derived neurotrophic factor in human saliva: ELISA optimization and biological correlates. Journal of Immunoassay & Immunochemistry, 32, 18-30.

Dalton, P.H.; Opiekun, R.E.; Wilson, T.; Maute, C.; Ozdener, M.H.; Zhao, K.; Emmet, E.; Lees, P.; Herbert, R.; Moline, J. (2010) Chemosensory loss: Functional consequences of the world trade center disaster. Environmental Health Perspectives, 118, 1251-1256.

Ozdener, M.H.; Yee, K.K.; McDermott, R.; Cowart, B.J.; Vainius, A.A.; Dalton, P.; Rawson, N.E. (2009) Assessment of smoking status based on cotinine levels in nasal lavage fluid. Tobacco Induced Diseases, 3, 11.

Mandel, A.L.; Ozdener, M.H.; Utermohlen, V. (2009) Identification of pro- and mature brain-derived neurotrophic factor in human saliva. Archives of Oral Biology, 54, 689-695.

Borgmann-Winter, K.E.; Rawson, N.E.; Wang, H-Y.; Wang, H.; MacDonald, M.L.; Ozdener, M.H.; Yee, K.K.; Gomez, G.; Xu, J.; Bryant, B.; Adamek, G.; Mirza, N.; Pribitkin, E.; Hahn, C-G. (2009) Human olfactory epithelial cells generated in vitro differentiate to express a diversity of neuronal functions. Neuroscience, 158, 642-653.

Ozdener, M.H. (2007) Inducible functional expression of Bcl-2 in human astrocytes derived from NTera-2 cells. Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 159, 8-18.

Ozdener, M.H.; Yee, K.K.; Cao, J.; Brand, J.G.; Teeter, J.H.; Rawson, N.E. (2006) Characterization and long-term maintenance of rat taste cells in culture. Chemical Senses, 31, 279-290.

Ozdener, M.H.. (2005) Molecular mechanisms of HIV-1 associated neurodegeneration. Journal of Biosciences, 10, 101-115.

Ozdener, M.H.; Rawson, N.E. (2004) Olfactory dysfunction in neurodegenerative diseases. European Journal of General Medicine, 1, 1-11.

Jesusa Josue

Research Associate

Education

Ph.D., Chemistry; University of Connecticut

Research Summary

My research deals with studying receptor mechanisms in taste. The idea is to use a cell-based or a cell free system to express the protein receptor. The recombinant protein will then be used to determine the steps involved in the recognition of taste stimuli. This is important for the development of modulatory compounds for the taste receptor.

Keywords

protein expression, protein purification, protein analysis, cloning, cell culture

Recent Publications

Goldsmith, B.R., et al. “Biomimetic chemical sensors using nanoelectronic readout of olfactory receptor proteins.” ACS Nano. 5 (2011) 5408-16.

Kwak, J.,et al. “Butylated hydroxytoluene is a ligand of urinary proteins derived from female mice.” Chemical Senses. 36.5 (2011) 443-52.

Cristina Jaen

Research Associate

Education

Ph.D., Physiology; University of South Florida

Research Summary

My research interests focus on how odorant perception affects human psychological and physiological responses. Many organic volatile compounds can elicit an odorant and irritant response. Olfactory cues such as smoke or rotten food alert us from perils and may produce an anxious reaction. I am interested in understanding how odorant perception affects different subpopulations, e.g. asthmatic subjects (who have respiratory problems) versus non-asthmatic subjects. This research may lead to a better understanding and management of asthma after being exposed to perceived dangerous odorant stimuli.

Glen Golden

Research Associate

Education

Ph.D., Neuroscience; Florida State University

Research Summary

My research is directed toward the associative processes involved in olfactory and gustatory learning. I am currently pursuing two lines of investigation: 1) taste preferences and aversions conditioned solely within the stomach and the intestinal tract via taste receptors in the gut and 2) the contribution of the chorda tympani to salty taste in differing strains of mice. I am also interested in how olfactory signals contribute to changes in animal behavior in disease states.

Keywords

salt taste, bitter taste, intragastric taste, olfaction, psychophysics, neurophysiology, associative learning, cognition, conditioned flavor, aversions/preferences, disease detection

Ginny Cruz

Research Associate

Education

Ph.D., Physiology and Biophysics; University of Miami

Research Summary

My current research is focused on experimental studies of odor mixture interactions, in particular, on olfactory adaptation and odor masking. We apply and develop fluorescence imaging techniques on an intact animal to discern the types of interactions at work among populations of neurons in the olfactory bulb. To better understand these physiological interactions, we will combine experiment with theory by making computer models of plausible mechanisms at the cellular level.

Understanding the mechanisms of odor mixture interactions may yield important insights into such fundamental problems as how we discriminate between different odors, or how we learn to perceive new odorant qualities. In practice, this research may guide the search or synthesis of chemicals that might be used to mask unpleasant smells, or to enhance fragrances. Ultimately, it would be of interest to understand how such interactions might go awry within the context of developmental abnormalities, including neurodegenerative disease, in which the olfactory system appears to play a critical role.

Keywords

olfaction, optical imaging, neurophysiology, odor masking, adaptation, cross-adaptation, olfactory bulb, fluorescence imaging,
computational modeling

Bruce Kimball

Associate Member

Education

Ph.D., Ecology; Colorado State University

Research Summary

I am a chemical ecologist with the USDA National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC). My research at Monell focuses on wildlife behavior and the chemical signals that identify friend, foe, and food. The goals of my research are increased understanding of wildlife behavior and development of practical tools to minimize wildlife damage to agricultural resources. Current research topics include: 1) phytochemical basis of herbivore foraging behavior; 2) olfactory signals associated with animal disease states; 3) cues associated with novelty or conditioned aversions; 4) mechanisms of herbivore repellents; 5) attractants for wildlife baiting systems.

Keywords

chemical ecology, foraging ecology, analytical chemistry, behavior, taste aversion learning, bioassay, spectroscopy, flavor, wildlife damage management

Recent Publications

Golden, G.J.; Hussey, A.; Kimball, B.A. (2012) Do Gastrointestinal Taste Receptors Contribute to Associative Learning and Foraging Behavior? Journal of Animal Science, 90, 4297-4307.

Kimball, B.A.; Russell, J.H.; Ott, P.K. (2012) Phytochemical Variation within a Single Plant Species Influences Foraging Behavior of Deer. Oikos, 121, 743-751.

Kimball, B.A.; Pfund, F.; Gourley, M.; Griffin, D.L.; Russell, J.H. (2011) Silvicultural Attempts to Induce Browse Resistance in Conifer Seedlings. International Journal of Forestry Research, Article ID 108529.

Hussey, A.M.; Kimball, B.A.; Friedman, J.M. (2011) Assessment of tannin variation in tamarisk foliage across a latitudinal gradient. The Open Environmental & Biological Monitoring Journal, 4, 32-35.

Field, K.L.; Beauchamp, G.K.; Kimball, B.A.; Mennella, J.A.; Bachmanov, A.A. (2010) Bitter avoidance in guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) and mice (Mus musculus and Peromyscus leucopus). Journal of Comparative Psychology, 124, 455-59.

Kimball, B.A. (2010) Taste aversion learning. In: Weiner, I.B.; Craighead, W.E. (Eds.) The Corsini Encyclopedia of Psychology, 4th Ed. New Jersey: John Wiley and Sons. 1753-1755.

Kimball, B.A.; Taylor, J.D. (2010) Mammalian herbivore repellents: Tools for altering plant palatability. Pest Management Science, 21, 181-87.

Kimball, B.A.; Taylor, J.; Perry, K.R.; Capelli, C. (2010) Deer responses to repellent stimuli. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 35, 1461-1470.

Field, K.L.; Bachmanov, A.A.; Mennella, J.A.; Beauchamp, G.K.; Kimball, B.A. (2009) Protein hydrolysates are avoided by herbivores but not by omnivores in two-choice preference tests. PLoS ONE, 4, e4126.

Figueroa, J.A.; Kimball, B.A.; Perry, K.R. (2009) Lagomorph and rodent responses to two protein hydrolysates. Crop Protection, 27, 851-854.

Kimball, B.A.; Perry, K.R. (2009) Evaluating new protein sources for development of a deer repellent product. Crop Protection, 28, 364-666.

Field, K.L.; Kimball, B.A.; Mennella, J.A.; Beauchamp, G.K.; Bachmanov, A.A. (2008) Avoidance of hydrolyzed casein by mice. Physiology & Behavior, 93, 189-199.

Lab Staff

Glen Golden: Postdoctoral Fellow
Amanda Hussey: Research Technician
Adam Faranda: Research Technician

Related Links

National Wildlife Research Center

Liquan Huang

Associate Member

Education

PhD, Molecular Biology; Yale University

Research Summary

My research is directed at the molecular mechanisms that underlie taste sensation and food preference. The focus is on identifying molecules that are involved in the recognition and transmission of taste stimuli in the oral cavity and other parts of the digestive system. This work has implications for understanding the cellular and molecular basis of gustatory perception, which may lead to effective treatments of taste disorders.

Keywords

single cells, gene expression, signal transduction, taste perception, digestive system

Recent Publications

Xu, J.; Cao, J.; Iguchi, N.; Riethmacher, D.;Huang, L. (2013) Functional characterization of bitter taste receptors expressed in mammalian testis. Molecular Human Reproduction, 19, 17-28.

Du, L.; Wu, C.; Peng, H.; Zhao, L.; Huang, L.; Wang, P. (2013) Bioengineered olfactory sensory neuron-based biosensor for specific odorant detection. Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 40, 401-406.

Feng, P.; Zhao, H.; Chai, J.; Huang, L.; Wang, H. (2012) Expression and secretion of TNF-a in mouse taste buds: a novel function of a specific subset of type II taste cells. PLoS ONE, 7, e43140.

Kim, A.; Feng, P.; Ohkuri, T.; Sauers, D.; Cohn, Z.J.; Chai, J.; Nelson, T.; Bachmanov, A.A.; Huang, L.; Wang, H. (2012) Defects in the peripheral taste structure and function in the MRL/lpr mouse model of autoimmune disease. PLoS ONE, 7, e35588.

Iguchi N.; Ohkuri, T.; Slack, J. P.; Zhong, P. and Huang, L. (2011) Sarco/endoplasmic reticulum ca2+-atpases (SERCA) contribute to gpcr-mediated taste perception. PLoS ONE, 6, e23165.

Cohn, Z. J.; Kim, A.; Huang, L.; Brand, J. and Wang, H. (2010) Lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation attenuates taste progenitor cell proliferation and shortens the life span of taste bud cells. BMC Neuroscience, 11, 72.

Hunter-Smith, S. and Huang, L. (2009) Human taste: peripheral anatomy, taste transduction and coding. AgroFood Industry Hi-Tech, 20, 24-27.

Maehashi, K. and Huang, L. (2009) Bitter peptides and bitter taste receptors. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, 66, 1661-1671.

Rawson, N. E. and Huang, L. (2009) Symposium overview: Impact of oronasal inflammation on taste and smell. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1170, 581-584.

Wang, H.; Iguchi, N.; Rong, Q.; Zhou, M.; Ogukunorode, M.; Inoue, M.; Pribitkin, E. A.; Bachmanov, A. A.; Margolskee, R. F.; Pfeifer, K. and Huang, L. (2009) Expression of the voltage-gated potassium channel KCNQ1 in mammalian taste bud cells and the effect of its null-mutation on taste preferences. Journal of Comparative Neurology, 512, 384-398.

Wang, H.; Zhou, M.; Brand, J. and Huang, L. (2009) Inflammation and taste disorders: mechanisms in taste buds. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1170, 596-603.

Huang, L. (2008) Bitter taste for flavor and health. Perfumer and Flavorist, 33, 52-55.

Naim, M; Shaul, M. E.; Spielman, A. I.; Huang, L. and Peri, I. (2008) Permeation of amphipathic sweeteners into taste-bud cells and their interactions with post-receptor signaling components: Possible implications for sweet-taste quality. In: Weearsinghe, D.K.; Dubois, G. (Ed.s) Sweetness and Sweeteners: Biology, Chemistry, and Psychophysics. London: Oxford University Press, 241-255.

Maehashi, K.; Matano, M.; Wang, H.; Vo, L.A.; Yamamoto, Y.; Huang, L. (2008) Bitter peptides activate hTAS2Rs, the human bitter receptors. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 365, 851-855.

Wang, H.; Zhou, M.; Brand, J.; Huang, L. (2007) Inflammation activates the interferon signaling pathways in taste bud cells. Journal of Neuroscience, 27, 10703-10713.

Breslin, P.A.S.; Huang, L. (2006) Human taste: peripheral anatomy, taste transduction and coding. Advances in Otorhinolaryngology, 63, 152-190.

Huang, L.; Cao, J.; Wang, H.; Vo, L.A.; Brand, J.G. (2005) Identification and functional characterization of a voltage-gated chloride channel and its novel splice variant in taste bud cells. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 280, 36150-36157.

Paul Wise

Associate Member

Education

Ph.D., Psychology; University of California, San Diego

Research Summary

Chemical irritation constitutes a continuing focus. In particular, I am interested in how nasal irritation changes over time in the face of steady stimulation, and how one may trade time and concentration to maintain a constant level of detectability to understand how the sensory system integrates over time. Other interests include perception of carbonation, and chemical stimuli as triggers of cough. Within the area of olfaction, my primary interest is mixture interactions in odor detection. An additional interest that cuts across sensory modalities is in methods to measure sensory thresholds.

Keywords

psychophysics, olfaction, chemesthesis, trigeminal, odor mixtures, dynamics, human perception

Recent Publications

Wise, P.M.; Breslin, P.A.S. (2013) Individual differences in sour and salt sensitivity: Detection and quality recognition thresholds for citric acid and sodium chloride. Chemical Senses. doi: 10.1093/chemse/bjt003

Wise, P.M.; Mennella, J.A.; Finkbeiner, S. (2013) Impaired cough sensitivity in children of smokers. Nicotine and Tobacco Research, 15, 603-607.

Wise, P.M.; Wysocki, C.J.; Lundström, J.N. (2012) Stimulus selection for intranasal sensory isolation: eugenol is an irritant. Chemical Senses, 37, 509-514.

Wise, P.M.; Breslin, P.A.S.; Dalton, P. (2012) Sweet taste and menthol increases cough reflex thresholds. Pulmonary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 25, 236-241.

Wise, P.M.; Breslin, P.A.S. (2011) Relationships among taste qualities assessed with response-context effects. Chemical Senses, 36, 581-587.

Wise, P.M.; Preti, G.; Eades, J.; Wysocki, C.J. (2011) The effect of menthol vapor on nasal sensitivity to chemical irritation. Nicotine and Tobacco Research, 13, 989-997.

Wise, P.M.; Zhao, K. and Wysocki, C. J. (2010) Dynamics of nasal irritation from pulsed, homologous alcohols. Chemical Senses, 35, 823-829.

Wise, P. M. (2010) Olfactory Localization. In: Goldstein, B., Sr. (Ed.) Encyclopedia of Perception. Thousand Oaks, Ca: Sage, 1.

Miyazawa, T.; Gallagher, M.; Preti. G. and Wise, P. M. (2009) Psychometric functions for ternary odor mixtures and their unmixed components. Chemical Senses, 34, 753-761.

Miyazawa, T.; Gallagher, M.; Preti. G. and Wise, P. M. (2009) Odor detection of mixtures of homologous carboxylic acids and coffee aroma compounds by humans. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 57, 9895-9901.

Wise, P. M.; Toczydlowski, S. E.; Zhao, K. and Wysocki, C. J. (2009) Temporal integration in nasal lateralization of homologous propionates. Inhalation Toxicology, 21, 819-827.

Wise, P. M.; Zhao, K. and Wysocki, C. J. (2009) Dynamics of nasal chemesthesis. Annals of the New York Academy of Science, 1170, 206-214.

Miyazawa, T.; Gallagher, M.; Preti, G. and Wise, P. M. (2008) Synergistic mixture interactions in detection of perithreshold odors by humans. Chemical Senses, 33, 363-369.

Miyazawa, T.; Gallagher, M.; Preti, G. and Wise, P. M. (2008) The impact of sub-threshold carboxylic acids on the odor intesity of supra-threshold flavor compounds. Chemosensory Perception, 1, 163-167.

Wise, P. M.; Bien, N. and Wysocki, C. J. (2008) Two rapid odor threshold methods compared to a modified method of constant stimuli. Chemosensory Perception, 1, 16-23.

Wise, P. M.; Hansen, J. L.; Reed, D. R. and Breslin, P. A. S. (2007) Twin study of the heritability of recognition thresholds for sour and salty taste. Chemical Senses, 32, 749-754.

Wise, P. M.; Toczydlowski, S. E. and Wysocki, C. J. (2007) Temporal integration in nasal lateralization of homologous alcohols. Toxicological Sciences, 99, 254-259.

Wise, P. M.; Miyazawa, T.; Gallagher, M. and Preti, G. (2007) Human odor detection of homologous carboxylic acids and their binary mixtures. Chemical Senses, 32, 475-482.

Kai Zhao

Assistant Member

Education

Ph.D., Bioengineering; University of Pennsylvania

Research Summary

My research interests include: 1) computational simulation of airflow and chemical odorant deposition in the human nasal cavity; 2) numerical modeling of peri-receptor chemical transport events, and exploring the possible influence of physio-chemical and local physiological variables (e.g., odorant mucosal solubility and diffusivity, nasal blood flow, etc.) on human olfactory and trigeminal responses; and 3) clinical evaluation of nasal mechanical obstruction caused by various nasal diseases and their treatment.

Recent Publications

Jiang, J.B.; Zhao, K. (2010) Airflow and nanoparticle deposition in rat nose under various breathing and sniffing conditions — A computational evaluation of the unsteady and turbulent effect. Journal of Aerosol Science, 41, 1030–1043

Wise, P.M.; Zhao, K.; Wysocki, C.J. (2009) Dynamics of nasal chemesthesis. Annals of the New York Academy of Science, 1170, 206-214.

Yang, G.C.; Scherer, P.W.; Zhao, K.; Mozell, M.M. (2007) Numerical modeling of odorant uptake in the rat nasal cavity. Chemical Senses, 32, 273-284.

Zhao, K.; Dalton, P. (2007) The way the wind blows: implications of modeling nasal airflow. Current Allergy and Asthma Reports, 7, 117-125.

Zhao, K.; Pribitkin, E.A.; Cowart, B.J.; Rosen, D.; Scherer, P.W.; Dalton, P. (2006) Numerical modeling of nasal obstruction and endoscopic surgical intervention: outcome to airflow and olfaction. American Journal of Rhinology, 20, 308-316.

Zhao, K.; Dalton, P.; Yang, G.C.; Scherer, P.W. (2006) Numerical modeling of turbulent and laminar airflow and odorant transport during sniffing in the human and rat nose. Chemical Senses, 31, 107-118.

Kurtz, D.B.; Zhao, K.; Hornung, D.E.; Scherer, P.W. (2004) Experimental and numerical determination of odorant solubility in nasal and olfactory mucosa. Chemical Senses, 29, 763-773.

Hong Wang

Assistant Member

Education

Ph.D., Molecular Biology; Yale University

Research Summary

Chemosensory disorders substantially impact the quality of life. Impairment of taste and smell contributes to malnutrition, cachexia, and depression in a large percentage of cancer and AIDS patients. In spite of the rapid progress in identifying chemosensory receptors and signaling molecules, the mechanisms of chemosensory disorders remain largely unknown and there is a lack of specific and effective treatment for these disorders. Thus, the primary focus of our laboratory is to identify the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying chemosensory disorders.

Our current research is mainly on the roles of inflammation in taste and smell dysfunction. Specific projects include: 1) characterizing pathways of inflammatory cytokines and Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in chemosensory systems; 2) determining the effects of inflammation on taste bud cell degeneration and regeneration; 3) identifying regulatory mechanisms that alter taste signaling in animal models of inflammation; 4) investigating the interactions between inflammatory and taste receptor-mediated signaling pathways in the gut.

Keywords

neuroimmunology, inflammation, taste and smell disorders, molecular biology, taste cell turnover, taste signaling, gene expression, in situ hybridization

Recent Publications

Kim, A.; Feng, P.; Ohkuri, T.; Sauers, D.; Cohn, Z.J.; Chai, J.; Nelson, T.; Bachmanov, A.A.; Huang, L.; Wang, H.M (2012) Defects in the peripheral taste structure and function in the MRL/lpr mouse model of autoimmune disease. PLoS ONE, 7, e35588.

Feng, P.; Zhao, H.; Chai, J.; Huang, L.; Wang, H.M (2012) Expression and secretion of TNF-α in mouse taste buds: a novel function of a specific subset of type II taste cells. PLoS ONE, 7, e43140.

Cohn, Z.J.; Kim, A.; Huang, L.; Brand, J.G.; Wang, H.M (2010) Lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation attenuates taste progenitor cell proliferation and shortens the life span of taste bud cells. BMC Neuroscience, 11, 72.

Feng, P.; Wang, H.M; Feldman, R.S.; Pribitkin, E.A.; Breslin, P.A.S. (2010) The T Cells in peripheral taste tissue of healthy human adults: Predominant memory T cells and Th-1 cells. Chemical Senses, 35, 501-509.

Wang, H.M; Zhou, M.; Brand, J.G.; Huang, L. (2009) Inflammation and taste disorders: mechanisms in taste buds. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1170, 596-603.

Wang, H.M; Iguchi, N.; Rong, Q.; Zhou, M.; Ogukunorode, M.; Inoue, M.; Pribitkin, E.A.; Bachmanov, A.A.; Margolskee, R.F.; Pfeifer, K.; Huang, L. (2009) Expression of the voltage-gated potassium channel KCNQ1 in mammalian taste bud cells and the effect of its null-mutation on taste preferences. Journal of Comparative Neurology, 512, 384-398.

Maehashi, K.; Matano ,M.; Wang, H.M; Vo, L.A.; Yamamato, Y.; Huang, L.; (2008) Bitter peptides activate hTAS2Rs, the human bitter receptors. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 365, 851-855.

Wang, H.M; Zhou, M.; Brand, J.G.; Huang, L. (2007) Inflammation activates the interferon signaling pathways in taste bud cells. Journal of Neuroscience, 27, 10703-10713.

Huang, L.; Cao, J.; Wang, H.M; Vo, L.A.; Brand, J.G. (2006) Identification and functional characterization of a voltage-gated chloride channel and its novel splice variant in taste bud cells. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 280, 36150-36157.

Li, X.; Li, W.; Wang, H.M; Cao, J.; Maehashi, K.; Huang, L.; Bachmanov, A.A.; Reed, D.R.; Legrand-Defretin, V.; Beauchamp, G.K.; Brand, J.G. (2005) Pseudogenization of a sweet receptor gene accounts for cats’ indifference toward sugar. PLoS GENETICS, 1, 27-35.

Lu, K.; McDaniel, A.H.; Tordoff, M.G.; Li, X.; Beauchamp, G.K.; Bachmanov, A.A.; VanderWeele, D.A.; Chapman, C.D.; Dess, N.K.; Huang, L.; Wang, H.M; Reed, D.R. (2005) No relationship between sequence variation in protein coding regions of the Tas1r3 gene and saccharin preference in rats. Chemical Senses, 30, 231-240.

Wang, H.M; Liao, H.; Ochani, M.; Justiniani, M.; Lin, X.; Yang, L.; Al-Abed, Y.; Wang, H.; Metz, C.; Miller, E.J.; Tracey, K.J.; Ulloa, L. (2004) Cholinergic agonists inhibit HMGB1 release and improve survival in experimental sepsis. Nature Medicine, 10, 1216-1221.

Wang, H.M; Yu, M.; Ochani, M.; Amela, C.; Tanovic, M.; Susarla, S.; Li, J-H.; Wang, H-C.; Yang, H.; Ulloa, L.; Al-Abed, Y.; Czura, C.; Tracey, K.J. (2003) Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor alpha 7 subunit is an essential regulator of inflammation. Nature, 421, 384-388.

Amos B. Smith, III

Member

Education

Ph.D., Organic Chemistry; The Rockefeller University

Research Summary

My research at Monell focuses on the chemistry, particularly structure-activity relationships, of mammalian pheromones and other compounds involved in chemical communication; it encompasses three diverse areas: natural product synthesis, bioorganic chemistry and materials science. I have continued my interest in bioorganic chemistry with collaborative programs in the Penn Center for Molecular Discovery (PCMD). At Monell, in collaboration with Peter Jurs (Penn State), I pioneered the use of computerized pattern recognition techniques for the analysis of primate chemical communication. Collaborative programs at the Laboratory for Research on the Structure of Matter (LRSM) have included the chemistry and physics of novel liquid crystals and the fullerenes.

Keywords

Smith

Michael Tordoff

Member

Education

Ph.D., Physiological Psychology; University of California, Los Angeles

Research Summary

My research interests are broadly focused on taste and nutrition. One area involves topics related to mineral appetite, including calcium taste and appetite, the physiology of salt intake, appetite specificity, and how the postingestive consequences of minerals influence taste preferences. Another area involves the genetics of taste perception, including the preferences for alcohol, sweetness, saltiness and calcium. A third area involves characterizing the environmental contribution to individual differences, particularly the influences of early environment, husbandry procedures, and food choice on taste preferences and dietary obesity.

Keywords

specific appetite, calcium, taste genetics, ingestive behavior, obesity

Recent Publications

Tordoff, M.G.; Alarcón, L.K.; Valmeki, S.; Jiang, P. (2012) T1R3: A human calcium taste receptor. Scientific Reports, 2, 496.

Tordoff, M.G.; Jaji, S.A.; Marks, J.M.; Ellis, H.T. (2012) Macronutrient choice of BTBR.NZW mice congenic for a 21-gene region of chromosome 17. Physiology & Behavior, 106, 556-561.

Cherukuri, C.M.; McCaughey, S.A.; Tordoff, M.G. (2011) Comparison of differences between PWD/PhJ and C57BL/6J mice in calcium solution preferences and chorda tympani nerve responses. Physiology & Behavior, 102, 496-502.

Tordoff, M.G. (2010) Taste solution consumption by FHH-Chr nBN consomic rats. Chemical Senses, 35, 473-489.

Bachmanov, A.A.; Inoue, M.; Ji, H.; Murata, Y.; Tordoff, M.G.; Beauchamp, G.K. (2009) Glutamate taste and appetite in laboratory mice: physiologic and genetic analyses. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 90.3, 756S-63S.

De Jonghe, B.C.; Lawler, M.P.; Horn, C.C.; Tordoff, M. G. (2009) Pica as an adaptive response: Kaolin consumption helps rats recover from chemotherapy-induced illness. Physiology & Behavior, 97.1, 87-90.

Tordoff, M.G.; Sandell, M. A. (2009) Vegetable bitterness is related to calcium content. Appetite, 52.2, 498-504.

Guenthner, C.J.; McCaughey, S.A.; Tordoff, M.G.; Baird, J.P. (2008) Licking for taste solutions by potassium-deprived rats: Specificity and mechanisms. BMC Genetics, 93, 937-46.

Reed, D.R.; Lawler, M.P.; Tordoff, M.G. (2008) Reduced body weight is a common effect of gene knockout. BMC Genetics, 9.4.

Tordoff, M.G.; Shao, H.; Alarcón, L.K.; Margolskee, R.F.; Mosinger, B.; Bachmanov, A.A.; Reed, D.R.; McCaughey, S.A. (2008) Involvement of T1R3 in calcium-magnesium taste.Physiological Genomics, 34.3, 338-48.

Tordoff, M.G. (2008) Gene discovery and the genetic basis of calcium consumption. Physiology & Behavior, 94, 649-59.

Lab Staff

Postdoctoral fellows
Michelle Murphy
Anna Voznesenskaya
 
Technicians
Laura Alarcón
Hillary Ellis
Matt Rosazza
Sitaram Valmeki
Tiffany Weiss
Ryan Crawford

Johannes Reisert

Associate Member

Education

Ph.D., Physiology; University of Cambridge

Research Summary

My laboratory investigates one of the first steps in olfactory perception: the conversion of an odorous stimulus into a nerve signal. Olfactory receptor neurons located in the nose detect odorants and generate the electrical response, which is then conveyed to the brain for further processing. The focus of my research is to understand 1) how olfactory receptor neurons code odor signals of different odorants and, 2) the cellular mechanisms that lead to the generation and termination of those responses. We also are interested in investigating the contribution of olfactory receptor neurons to olfactory adaptation, which is the waning of our perception of odorants over time. My approach uses both electrophysiological and cell imaging techniques to address these question.

Keywords

olfaction, single cell electrophysiology, signal transduction, ion channels

Recent Publications

Su, C.Y.; Menuz, K.; Reisert, J.; Carlson, J.R. (2012) Non-synaptic inhibition between grouped neurons in an olfactory circuit. Nature, 492, 66-71.

Stephan, A.B.; Tobochnik, S.; Dibattista, M.; Wall, C.M.; Reisert, J.; Zhao, H. (2012) The Na+/Ca2+ exchanger NCKX4 governs termination and adaptation of the mammalian olfactory response. Nature Neuroscience, 15, 131-137.

Ponissery Saidu, S.; Dibattista, M.; Matthews, H.R.;Reisert, J. (2012) Odorant-induced responses recorded from olfactory receptor neurons using the suction pipette technique. Journal of Visualized Experiments : JoVE, 62, e3862.

Ghatpande, A.S.; Reisert, J. (2011) Olfactory receptor neuron responses coding for rapid odor sampling. Journal of Physiology, 589, 2261-2273.

Antolin, S.; Reisert, J.; Matthews, H.R. (2010) Olfactory response termination involves Ca2+-ATPase in vertebrate olfactory receptor neuron cilia. Journal of General Physiology, 135, 367-378.

Reisert, J. (2010) Origin of basal activity in mammalian olfactory receptor neurons. Journal of General Physiology, 136, 529-540.

Stephan, A.B.; Shum, E.Y.; Hirsh, S.; Cygnar, K.D.; Reisert, J.; Zhao, H. (2009) ANO2 is the cilial calcium-activated chloride channel that may mediate olfactory amplification. Proceedings National Academy of Sciences USA, 106, 11776-11781.

Song, Y.; Cygnar, K.D.; Sagdullaev, B.; Valley, M.; Hirsh, S.; Stephan, A.; Reisert, J.; Zhao, H. (2008) Olfactory CNG channel desensitization by Ca2+/CaM via the B1b subunit affects response termination but not sensitivity to recurring stimulation. Neuron, 58, 374-386.

Reisert, J.; Yau, K.W.; Margolis, F.L. (2007) Olfactory marker protein modulates the cAMP kinetics of the odour-induced response in cilia of mouse olfactory receptor neurons. Journal of Physiology, 585, 731-740.

Michalakis, S.; Reisert, J.; Geiger, H.; Wetzel, C.; et al. (2006) Loss of CNGB1 protein leads to olfactory dysfunction and subciliary cyclic nucleotide-gated channel trapping. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 281, 35156-35166.

Bhandawat, V.; Reisert, J.; Yau, K.W. (2005) Elementary response of olfactory receptor neurons to odorants. Science, 308, 1931-1934.

Reisert, J.; Lai, J.; Yau, K.W.; Bradle,y J. (2005) Mechanism of the excitatory Cl- response in mouse olfactory receptor neurons. Neuron, 45, 553-561.

Reisert, J.; Bauer, P.J.; Yau, K.W.; Frings, S. (2003) The Ca-activated Cl channel and its control in rat olfactory receptor neurons. Journal of General Physiology, 122, 349-364.

Reisert, J.; Matthews, H.R. (2001) Response properties of isolated mouse olfactory receptor cells. Journal of Physiology, 530, 113-122.

Reisert, J.; Matthews, H.R. (2001) Responses to prolonged odour stimulation in frog olfactory receptor cells. Journal of Physiology, 534, 179-191.

Reisert, J.; Matthews, H.R. (2001) Simultaneous recording of receptor current and intraciliary Ca2+ concentration in salamander olfactory receptor cells. Journal of Physiology, 535, 637-645.

Reisert, J.; Matthews, H.R. (1999) Adaptation of the odour-induced response in frog olfactory receptor cells. Journal of Physiology, 519, 801-813.

Reisert, J.; Matthews, H.R. (1998) Na+-dependent Ca2+ extrusion governs response recovery in frog olfactory receptor cells. Journal of General Physiology, 112, 529-535.

Reviews, Book Chapters and Perspectives

Reisert, J..; Gelperin, A. (2012) When does more give less in the olfactory system? Physiology News, 86, 18-21.

Reisert, J.; Zhao, H. (2011) Perspectives on: Information and coding in mammalian sensory physiology: Response kinetics of olfactory receptor neurons and the implications in olfactory coding. Journal of General Physiology, 138, 303-310.

Reisert, J.; Restrepo, D. (2009) Molecular tuning of odorant receptors and its implication for odor signal processing. Chemical Senses, 34, 535-545.

Reisert, J.; Margolis, F.L. (2008) Olfactory marker protein: a gift to molecular biologists, an enigma to physiologists. Physiology News, 73, 27-29.

Bradley, J.; Reisert, J.; Frings, S. (2005) Regulation of cyclic nucleotide-gated channels. Current Opinions in Neurobiology, 15, 343-349.

Matthews, H.R.; Reisert, J. (2003) Calcium, the two-faced messenger of olfactory transduction and adaptation. Current Opinions in Neurobiology, 13, 469-475.

Marcia Pelchat

Associate Member

Education

Ph.D., Physiological Psychology; University of Pennsylvania

Research Summary

My research interests include: 1) food preferences, especially mechanisms of food cravings, responses to novel foods, and food preferences in the elderly; 2) chemical senses in the elderly including taste, smell, and chemical irritation; 3) genetics of individual differences in human chemosensation; and 4) neuroimaging of sensory and evaluative responses to food.

Keywords

aging, obesity, craving, human, picky eating, gustation, olfaction, food selection, brain imaging, psychophysics

Recent Publications

Coldwell, S.E.; Mennella, J.A.; Duffy, V.B.; Pelchat, M.L.; et al. (In Press) Gustation assessment using the NIH Toolbox, American Academy of Neurology.

Corsica, J.A.; Pelchat, M.L. (2010) Food addiction: true or false? Current Opinions in Gastroenterology, 26, 165-169.

Pelchat, M.L.; Bykowski, C.; Duke, F.; Reed, D.R. (2010) Excretion and perception of a characteristic odor in urine after asparagus ingestion: A psychophysical and genetic study. Chemical Senses, 36, 9-17.

Pelchat, M.L. (2009) Food addiction in humans. Journal of Nutrition, 139, 620-622.

Pelchat, M.L.; Johnson, A.; Chan, R.; Valdez, J.; Ragland, J.D. (2004) Images of desire: Food-craving activation during fMRI. NeuroImage, 23, 1486-1493.

Delwiche, J.F.; Pelchat, M.L. (2002) Influence of glass shape on the perception of wine aroma. Journal of Sensory Studies, 17, 19-28.

Pelchat, M.L. (2002) Of human bondage: Food craving, obsession, compulsion, and addiction. Physiology & Behavior, 76, 347-352.

Pelchat, M.L.; Blank, F. (2001) A scientific approach to flavors and olfactory memory. In: Walker, H. (ed.) Food and the Memory: Oxford Symposium on Food and Cookery, 2000 Proceedings. Devon, UK: Prospect Books, 192-198.

Pelchat, M.L. (2001) Is age-related olfactory loss uniform across odorants? In: Lorig, T.S. (Ed.) Compendium of Olfactory Research. Dubuque, Iowa: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, 3-12.

Pelchat, M.L. (2000) You can teach an old dog new tricks: Olfaction and responses to novel foods by the elderly. Appetite, 35, 153-160.

Pelchat, M.L.; Schaefer, S. (2000) Dietary monotony and food cravings in young and elderly adults. Physiology & Behavior, 68, 353-359.

Pelchat, M.L.; Beauchamp, G.K. (1999) Sensory and taste preferences of chocolate. In: Knight, I. (ed.) Chocolate and Cocoa. Oxford: Blackwell Science, 310-320.

Lab Staff

Ryan Crawford – Research Technician

George Preti

Member

Education

Ph.D., Organic Chemistry; Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Research Summary

Research in my laboratory focuses upon the nature and origin of human odors, particularly those from the underarm (axillae) and the oral cavity. We have identified the structures of many human axillary odorants, demonstrated the presence of human primer and modulator pheromones in the axillary secretions and have used our knowledge of body chemistry to diagnose disease and the time of optimum fertility in females. We are pursuing the structures of the active pheromone constituents via a bioassay-guided isolation procedure as well as employing gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) to generate metabolic profiles (“metabolomics”) of human urine, skin and axillary secretions to identify biomarkers of disease, individual identity and stress. In addition we study the amelioration of malodors from humans with the odor producing metabolic disease, Trimethylaminuria, as well as from agricultural and environmental activities via cross-adaptation, odor absorption and anti-microbial agents.

Keywords

olfaction, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, olfactometry, organic-analytical chemistry, human body odors, human stress odors, malodor amelioration, odor and disease, human odorprints, agricultural and environmental odors

Recent Publications

Kybert, N.J.; Lerner, M.B.; Yodh, J.S.; Preti, G.; Johnson, A.T.C. (2013) Differentiation of complex vapor mixtures using versatile DNA-carbon nanotube chemical sensor arrays. ACS Nano. doi: 10.1021/nn400359c

Kwak, J.; Grigsby, C.C.; Rizki, M.M.; Preti, G.; Köksal, M.; Josue, J.; Yamazaki, K.; Beauchamp, G.K. (2012) Differential binding affinities between volatile ligands and urinary proteins due to genetic variation in mice. Physiology and Behavior, 107, 112-120.

Khamis, S.M.; Jones, R.A.; Johnson, A.T.C.; Preti, G.; Kwak, J.; Gelperin, A. (2012) DNA-decorated carbon nanotube-based FETs as ultrasensitive chemical sensors: Discrimination of homologues, structural isomers,and optical isomers. AIP Advances, 2, 022110.

Wise, P.M.; Eades, J.; Tjoa, S.; Fennessey, P.V.; Preti, G. (2011) Individuals reporting idiopathic malodor production: demographics and incidence of trimethylaminuria. American Journal of Medicine, 124, 1058-1063.

Kwak, J.; Preti, G. (2011) Volatile disease biomarkers in breath: a critique. Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, 12, 1067-1074.

Johnson, A.T.C.; Kahmis, S. M.; Preti, G.; Kwak, J.; Gelperin, A. (2010) DNA-coated nanosensors for breath analysis. IEEE Sensor Journal, 10, 159-166.

Kwak, J.; Willse, A.; Preti, G.; Yamazaki, K.; Beauchamp, G.K. (2010) In search of the chemical basis for MHC odourtypes. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 277, 2417-2425.

Preti, G.; Leyden, J.J. (2010) Genetic influences on human body odor: From genes to the axillae. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 130, 344-346.

Wysocki, C.J.; Preti, G. (2010) Human pheromones: What’s purported, what’s supported. A Sense of Smell Institute White Paper. The Fragrance Foundation: New York.

Kwak, J.; Curran-Opiekun, M.; Matsumura, K.; Preti, G.; Yamazaki, K.; Beauchamp, G.K. (2009) Major histocompatibility complex-regulated odortypes: Peptide-free urinary volatile signals. Physiology & Behavior, 96, 184-188.

Miyazawa, T.; Gallagher, M.; Preti, G.; Wise, P.M. (2009) Odor detection of mixtures of homologous carboxylic acids and coffee aroma compounds by humans. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 57, 9895-98901.

Miyazawa, T.; Gallagher, M.; Preti, G.; Wise, P.M. (2009) Psychometric functions for ternary odor mixtures and their unmixed components. Chemical Senses, 34, 753-761.

Miyazawa, T.; Gallagher, M.; Preti, G.; Wise, P. M. (2009) Methodological factors in odor detection by humans. Chemosensory Perception, 2, 195-202.

Julie Mennella

Member and Director Emeritus, Monell Science Apprenticeship Program (MSAP)

Education

Ph.D., Biopsychology; The University of Chicago

Research Summary

My research program focuses on the development of food and flavor preferences in humans and the effects of alcohol and tobacco on women’s health and infant development. Current research studies focus on the following areas: 1) how maternal diet alters the aromatic profiles of amniotic fluid and mother’s milk and how such early flavor experiences affect food preferences during weaning and childhood; 2) elucidation of sensitive periods in flavor learning and food preferences in humans; 3) developing strategies to promote acceptance of fruits and vegetables in infants and children; 4) studying the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of alcohol in women; 5) determining the effects of alcohol consumption on hormonal responses and lactational performance; 6) studying the relationship between family history of alcoholism, tobacco use and taste preferences across the lifespan; 7) learning how parental drinking and smoking impact on the hedonic response to the sensory properties of these drugs during childhood and adolescence; and 8) elucidating the contribution of genes, experience and medical history to individual differences in taste and smell sensitivity and preferences.

Keywords

taste, flavor, smell, lactation, development, infants, children, addiction, psychophysics, endocrinology, pharmacokinetics

Recent Publications

Mennella, J.A.; Finkbeiner, S.; Reed, D.R. (2012) The proof is in the pudding: children prefer lower fat but higher sugar than do mothers. International Journal of Obesity (London), 36, 1285-1291.

Mennella, J.A.; Ventura, A.K.; Beauchamp, G.K. (2011) Differential growth patterns among healthy infants fed protein hydrolysate or cow-milk formulas. Pediatrics, 127, 110-118.

Mennella, J.A.; Lukasewycz, L.D.; Castor, S.M.; Beauchamp, G.K. (2011) The timing and duration of a sensitive period in human flavor learning: a randomized trial. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 93, 1019-1024.

Mennella, J.A.; Pepino, M.Y.; Duke F.; Reed D.R. (2010) Age modifies the genotype-phenotype relationship for the bitter receptor TAS2R38. BMC Genetics, 11, 60.

Mennella, J.A.; Pepino, M.Y. (2010) Breast pumping and lactational state exert differential effects on ethanol pharmacokinetics. Alcohol, 44, 141-148.

Mennella, J.A.; Pepino, M.Y.; Lehmann-Castor, S.M.; Yourshaw, L.M. (2010) Sweet preferences and analgesia during childhood: effects of family history of alcoholism and depression. Addiction, 105, 666-675.

Mennella, J.A.; Pepino, M. Y. (2009) Biphasic effects of alcohol consumption on prolactin in lactating women. Alcohol, 32, 1899-1908.

Mennella, J.A. (2009) Taste and smell. In: Shweder, R.A.; Bidell, T.R.; Dailey, A.C.; et al. (Eds.), The Child: An Encyclopedic Companion. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 980-982.

Beauchamp, G.K.; Mennella, J.A. (2009) Early flavor learning and its impact on later feeding behavior. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, 48, S25-S30.

Field, K.L.; Bachmanov, A.A.;Mennella, J.A.; Beauchamp, G.K.; Kimball, B.A. (2009) Protein hydrolysates are avoided by herbivores but not by omnivores in two-choice preference tests. PLoS ONE, 4, e4126.

Gidding, S.S.; Lichtenstein, A.; Faith, M.S.; Karpyn, A.; Mennella, J.A.; Popkin, B.; et al. (2009) AHA Scientific Statement: Implementing American Heart Association Pediatric and Adult Nutrition Guidelines. Circulation, 119, 1161-1175.

Mennella, J.A. (2009) Flavour programming during breast-feeding. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 639, 113-120.

Pepino, M.Y.; Finkbeiner, S.; Mennella, J.A. (2009) Similarities in food cravings and mood states between obese women and women who smoke tobacco. Obesity, 17, 1158-1163.

Field, K.L.; Kimball, B.A.; Mennella, J.A.; Beauchamp, G.K.; Bachmanov, A.A. (2008) Avoidance of hydrolyzed casein by mice. Physiology & Behavior, 93, 189-199.

Mennella, J.A.; Beauchamp, G.K. (2008) Optimizing oral medications for children. Clinical Therapeutics, 30, 2120-2132.

Mennella, J.A.; Forestell, C.A. (2008) Children’s hedonic responses to the odors of alcoholic beverages: A window to emotions. Alcohol, 42, 249-260.

Mennella, J.A.; Nicklaus, S.; Jagolino, A.L.; Yourshaw, L.M. (2008) Variety is the spice of life: Strategies for promoting fruit and vegetable acceptance in infants. Physiology & Behavior, 94, 29-38.

Pepino, M.Y.; Mennella, J.A. (2008) Effects of breast pumping on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of ethanol during lactation. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 84, 710-714.

Forestell, C.A.; Mennella, J.A. (2007) Food, folklore and flavor preference development. In: Lammi-Keefe, C. (Ed.), Handbook of Nutrition and Pregnancy, Humana Press, 55-64.

Forestell, C.A.; Mennella, J.A. (2007) Early determinants of fruit and vegetable acceptance. Pediatrics, 129, 1247-1254.

Mennella, J.A. (2007) The chemical senses and the development of flavor preferences in humans. In: Hartmann, P.E.; Hale, T. (Eds.), Textbook on Human Lactation, Texas: Hale Publishing, 403-414.

Mennella, J.A. (2007) Alcohol and lactation: do no harm. Nutrition and Dietetics, 64, 128-129.

Mennella, J.A.; Yourshaw, L.M.; Morgan, L.K. (2007) Breastfeeding and smoking: Short-term effects on infant feeding and sleep. Pediatrics, 120, 497-502.

Molina, J.C.; Mennella, J.A..; Lewis, M.J.; Spear, N.E.; Spear, I. (2007) Alcohol and development: Beyond fetal alcohol syndrome. Developmental Psychobiology, 49, 227-242.

Pepino, M.Y.; Mennella, J.A. (2007) Effects of cigarette smoking and family history of alcoholism on sweet taste perception and food cravings in women. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 31, 1891-1899.

Pepino, M.Y.; Steinmeyer, A.L.; Mennella, J.A. (2007) Lactational state modifies alcohol pharmacokinetics in women. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 31, 909-918.

Mennella, J.A.. (2006) Development of food preferences: lessons learned from longitudinal and experimental studies. Food Quality and Preference, 17, 635-636.

Mennella, J.A.; Ziegler, P.J.; Briefel, R.R.; Novak, T.J. (2006) Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study: The types of foods fed to Hispanic infants and toddlers. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 106, 96-106.

Mennella, J.A.; Kennedy, J.; Beauchamp, G.K. (2006) The type of formula fed to infants modifies vegetable acceptance. Early Human Development, 82, 263-268.

Mennella, J.A.; Pepino, M.Y. (2006) Short-term effects of alcohol consumption on the hormonal milieu and mood states in nulliparous women. Alcohol, 38, 29-36.

Lab Staff

Ali Ventura, PhD- Postdoctoral Fellow
Sara Lehmann – Senior Research Technician
Susanna Finkbeiner- Research Technician
Laura Lukasewycz – Research Technician
Aleida Silva-Garcia – Research Technician
Lauren Yourshaw – part-time Research Technician (PhD student)
Allison Steinmeyer – part-time Research Technician (MS student)
Katy Vojtko– part-time Research Technician (PhD student)
Sehris Khawaja – part-time Research Technician

Alan Gelperin

Member

Education

Ph.D., Biology; University of Pennsylvania

Research Summary

I study odor information processing and memory storage using biological, computational and electronic approaches. My lab studies biological olfaction using mammalian systems whose central odor processing networks reliably compute complex predictive relationships between odor stimuli and rewards. We record in vivo from mitral cells in the mouse olfactory bulb during odor discrimination and odor learning to identify learning-induced alterations in mitral cell activity. In vitro studies of a slice preparation of the olfactory bulb allow us to test biophysical models of mitral cell plasticity. Patch and optical recording methods are utilized to understand the role of oscillatory dynamics and neurogenesis in odor recognition and memory storage. Computational methods generate biophysically-based network models of the olfactory system to identify general design principles. With collaborators in electronic olfaction we work on developing new odor sensor arrays, sensor circuits and algorithms to develop a new generation of electronic olfactory systems able to solve hard problems like finding buried land mines or contribute to disease diagnosis.

Keywords

systems neuroscience, behavioral neuroscience, learning and memory, olfactory information processing, neuronal biophysics, olfactometry, optical recording, elctronic olfaction, electronic chemosensors, neurophysiological methods, odor sensing for disease diagnosis, neuroethology

Recent Publications

Liscia, A.M.; Solari, P.; Gibbons, S.T.; Gelperin, A.; Stoffolano, J.G. (2012) Effect of serotonin on the supercontractile muscles of the blowfly crop. Journal of Insect Physiology, 58, 356-366.

Khamis, S.; Johnson, A.T.C.; Preti, G.; Kwak, J.; Gelperin, A. (2012) DNA-decorated carbon nanotube-based FETs as ultrasensitive chemical sensors: Discrimination of homologs, structural and optical isomers. AIP Advances, 2, 022110.

Reisert, J.; Gelperin, A. (2012) When does more give less in the olfactory system? Physiology News, 86, 18-21.

Goldsmith, B.; Mitala Jr., J.J.; Lerner, M.; Josue, J.; Abaffy, T.; Baybert, T.H.; Khamis, S.; Jones, R.; Rhodes, P.; Sligar, S.; Luetje, C.W.; Gelperin, A.; Brand, J.; Discher, B.; Johnson, A.T.C. (2011) Biomimetic chemical sensors using nanoelectronic read out of olfactory receptor binding to odorants. ACS Nano, 5, 5408-5416.

Gelperin, A. (2010) Human olfactory perception. In: Hermann, A. (Ed.) The Chemistry and Biology of Volatiles. John Wiley Publishing Co. 253-290.

Johnson, A. T. C.; Kahmis, S. M.; Preti, G.; Kwak, J. and Gelperin, A. (2010) DNA-coated nanosensors for breath analysis. IEEE Sensor Journal, 10, 159-166.

McQuade, L. E.; Ma, J.; Lowe, G.; Ghatpande, A.; Gelperin, A. and Lippard, S. J. (2010) Visualization of nitric oxide production in the mouse main olfactory bulb by a cell-trappable copper(II) fluorescent probe. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, 107, 8525-8530.

Gelperin, A. and Ghatpande, A. (2009) Neural basis of olfactory perception. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1170, 277-285.

Ghatpande, A. S. and Gelperin, A. (2009) Presynaptic muscarinic receptors enhance glutamate release at the mitral/tufted to granule cell dendrodendritic synapse in the rat main olfactory bulb. Journal of Neurophysiology, 101, 2052-2061.

Preti, G.; Thaler, E.; Hanson, C. W.; Troy, M.; Eades, J. and Gelperin, A. (2009) Volatile compounds characteristic of sinus-related bacteria and infected sinus mucus: analysis by solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Journal of Chromatography B: Analytical Technologies in the Biomedical and Life Sciences, 877, 2011-2018.

Gelperin, A. and Johnson, A. T. C. (2008) Nanotube-Based Sensor Arrays for Clinical Breath Analysis. Journal of Breath Research, 2, 037015.

Gelperin, A. (2008) Neural computations with mammalian infochemicals. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 34, 928-942.

Lowe, G.; Buerk, D. G.; Ma, J. and Gelperin, A. (2008) Tonic and stimulus-evoked nitric oxide production in the mouse olfactory bulb. Neuroscience, 153, 842-850.

Pamela Dalton

Member

Education

Ph.D., Experimental Psychology; New York University
M.P.H. (Public Health); Drexel University

Research Summary

My research attempts to broadly understand how cognitive and emotional processes modify the way we perceive odor and sensory irritation from volatile chemicals. One approach involves examining the associations and disassociations between subjective (self-report) and objective markers of irritation (e.g., ocular inflammation, nasal blood flow, respiratory patterns) resulting from chemical exposure. Another line of investigation examines the relationship between exposure frequency, adaptation and clinical sequelae from exposure to airborne chemicals, both in the laboratory and in occupational and community settings. In a related effort, modeling how odorant transport factors (e.g., physico-chemical characteristics of the odorant, nasal airflow, inflammatory changes) affect these processes can provide additional insight into variation in olfactory perception among the population.

Keywords

olfaction, sensory irritation, environment, volatiles, cognition, emotion, symptom perception, occupational exposure

Recent Publications

Dalton, P.; Doty, R.L.; Murphy, C.; Frank, R.; et al. (In press) Olfactory Assessment Using the NIH Toolbox. Neurology.

Wise, P.M.; Breslin, P.A.S.; Dalton, P. (2012) Sweet taste and menthol increase cough reflex thresholds. Pulmonary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 25, 236-241.

Miller, S.; Gordon, A.; Olsson, M.; Lundstrom, J.; Dalton, P. (2012) Mind over age- Stereotype activation and olfactory function. Chemical Senses, 38, 167-174.

Dalton, P. (2012) There’s something in the air: Effects of beliefs and expectations on response to environmental odors. In: Zucco, G.M.; Herz, R.S.; Schaal, B. (Eds.) Essays in Olfactory Cognition: Advances in Consciousness Research, Amsterdam, Holland: John Benjamins.

Dalton, P.; Caraway, E.; Gibb., H.; Fulcher, K. (2011) A multi-year field olfactometry study near a concentrated animal feeding operation. Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association, 61, 1398-1408.

Dalton, P.; Mennella, J.A.; Maute, C.; Castor, S.M.; Silva-Garcia, A.; Slotkin, J.; Grindle, C.R.; Parkes, W.; Pribitkin, E.A.; Reilly, J.S. (2011) Development of a test to evaluate olfactory function in a pediatric population. Laryngoscope, 9, 1843-1850.

Dalton, P. (2010) Olfactory toxicity in humans and experimental animals. Toxicology of the Nose and Upper Airways, 15, 215-241.

Dalton, P.; Jaen, C. (2010) Responses to odors in occupational environments. Current Opinions in Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 10, 127-132.

Dalton, P.; Mennella, J.A.; Cowart, B.J.; Maute, C.; Pribitkin, E.A.; Reilly, J.S. (2009) Evaluating the prevalence of olfactory dysfunction in a pediatric population. Annals of the New York Academy of Science, 1170, 537-542.

Ozdener, M.H.; Yee, K.K.; McDermott, R.; Cowart, B.; Vainius, A.A.; Dalton, P.; Rawson, N. (2009) Assessment of smoking status based on cotinine levels in nasal lavage fluid. Tobacco Induced Diseases, 5, 11.

Dalton, P.; Maute, C.; Oshida, A.; Hikichi, S.; Izumi, Y. (2008) The use of semantic differential scaling to define the multi-dimensional representation of odors. Journal of Sensory Studies, 23, 485-497.

Gallagher, M.; Dalton, P.; Sitvarin. L.; Preti, G. (2008) Sensory and analytical evaluation of paints with and without texanol. Environmental Science & Technology, 42, 243-248.

Petrova, M.; Diamond, J.; Shuster, B.; Dalton, P. (2008) Evaluation of trigeminal sensitivity to ammonia in asthmatics and healthy human volunteers. Inhalation Toxicology, 20, 1085-1092.

Beverly Cowart

Member

Education

Ph.D., Psychology; The George Washington University

Research Summary

For the past 20 years, the overall goal of my research program has been to understand chemosensory dysfunction as a disease entity, developing appropriate clinical measures of chemosensory function, identifying etiologies of dysfunction, and investigating such issues as the impact of chemosensory dysfunctions on patients, the demographic characteristics of individuals with chemosensory dysfunctions, and the prognoses for chemosensory dysfunctions. Most recently the focus of our studies has been on the role of inflammatory pathology in chemosensory dysfunction, particularly in smell loss secondary to chronic rhinosinusitis, and on the protective role of extra-oral taste receptors in nasal-sinus disease. We are also pursuing studies of plasticity in the adult olfactory system with the goal of enhancing olfactory function in aging and disease.

Keywords

smell, taste, chemical irritation, psychophysics, aging, taste & smell disorders, anosmia

Recent Publications

Rawson, N.E.; Gomez, G.; Cowart, B.J.; Kriete, A.; Pribitkin, E.; Restrepo, D. (2012) Age-associated loss of selectivity in human olfactory sensory neurons. Neurobiology of Aging, 33, 1913-1919.

Stein, L.J.; Cowart, B.J.; Beauchamp, G.K. (2012) The development of salty taste acceptance is related to dietary experience in human infants: a prospective study. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 95, 123-129.

Cowart, B.J. (2011) Smell and taste in aging. Perfumer and Flavorist, 36.1, 34-36.

Cowart, B.J. (2010) Taste dysfunction: a practical guide for oral medicine. Oral Diseases, 17, 2-6.

Yee, K.K.; Pribitkin, E.A.; Cowart, B.J.; Vainius, A.A.; Klock, C.T.; Rosen, D.; Feng, P.; McLean, J.; Hahn, C.G.; Rawson, N.E. (2010) Neuropathology of the olfactory mucosa in chronic rhinosinusitis. American Journal of Rhinology and Allergy, 24, 110-120.

Cowart, B.J. (2009) Aging and chemical senses. In: Goldstein, B. (Ed.) Encyclopedia of Perception. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 17-19.

Cowart, B.J. (2009) Olfaction: Disorders. In: Goldstein, B. (Ed.) Encyclopedia of Perception. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 661-64.

Dalton, P.; Mennella, J.A.; Cowart, B.J.; Maute, C.; Pribitkin, E.A. and Reilly, J.S. (2009) Evaluating the prevalence of olfactory dysfunction in a pediatric population. Annals of the New York Academy of Science, 1170, 537-42.

Huque, T.; Cowart, B.J.; Dankulich-Nagrudny, L.; Pribitkin, E.A.; Bayley, D.L.; Spielman, A.I.; Feldman, R.S.; Mackler, S.A.; Brand, J.G. (2009) Sour ageusia in two individuals implicates ion channels of the ASIC and PKD families in human sour taste perception at the anterior tongue. PLoS ONE, 4.10, e7347.

Ozdener, M.H.; Yee, K.K.; McDermott, R.; Cowart, B.J.; Vainius, A.A.; Dalton, P.; Rawson, N. (2009) Assessment of smoking status based on cotinine levels in nasal lavage fluid. Tobacco Induced Diseases, 5.1, 11.

Yee, K.K.; Pribitkin, E.A.; Cowart, B.J.; Rosen, D.; Feng, P.; Rawson, N.E. (2009) Analysis of the olfactory mucosa in chronic rhinosinusitis. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1170.590, 595.

Yee, K.K.; Pribitkin, E.A.; Cowart, B.J.; Vainius, A.A.; Klock, C.T.; Rosen, D.; Hahn, C.G; Rawson, N.E. (2009) Smoking-associated squamous metaplasia in olfactory mucosa of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis. Toxicologic Pathology, 37.5, 594-598.

Mattes, R.D.; Cowart, B.J. (2007) Research methods for human sensory system analysis and food evaluation. In: Monsen, E.R.; Van Horn, L. (Eds.) Research: Successful Approaches. Chicago: American Dietetic Association, 249-66.

Paul Breslin

Member

Education

Ph.D., Experimental Psychology; University of Pennsylvania

Research Summary

I am interested in human oral perception and its genetic basis. The primary focus of my work is on taste perception with an emphasis on taste discrimination, taste enhancement and suppression, and taste localization. I also study oral irritation/chemesthesis, mouthfeel, and astringency. The interactions among gustation, chemesthesis, and olfaction that comprise flavor are the topic of an ongoing research program that includes fMRI as a tool to understand regional brain involvement. In addition to human research, I conduct parallel genetic studies of the chemical senses in my Fly Lab, which uses Drosophila melanogaster as a model.

Keywords

taste, psychophysics, behavioral genetics, perceptual genetics, psychogenomics, oral rheometry, functional expression

Recent Publications

Wise, P.M.; Breslin, P.A.S. (2013) Individual Differences in Sour and Salt Sensitivity: Detection and Quality Recognition Thresholds for Citric Acid and Sodium Chloride. Chemical Senses. doi: 10.1093/chemse/bjt003

Peyrot des Gachons, C.P.; Mura, E.; Speziale, C.; Favreau, C.J.; Dubreuil, G.F.; Breslin, P.A.S (2012) Opponency of astringent and fat sensations. Current Biology, 22, R829-830.

Campbell, M.C.; Ranciaro, A.; Froment, A.; Hirbo, J.; Omar, S.; Bodo, J.-M.; Nyambo, T.; Lema, G.; Zinshteyn, D.; Drayna, D.; Breslin, P.A.S.; Tishkoff, S.A. (2012) Evolution of functionally diverse alleles associated with PTC bitter taste sensitivity in Africa. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 29, 1141-1153.

Mandel, A.L.; Breslin, P.A.S. (2012) High endogenous salivary amylase activity is associated with improved glycemic homeostasis following starch ingestion in adults. Journal of Nutrition, 142, 853-858, [Cover Article].

Wise, P.M.; Breslin, P.A.S.; Dalton, P. (2012) Sweet taste and menthol increase cough reflex thresholds. Pulmonary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 25, 236-241.

Greene, T.A.; Alarcon, S.; Thomas, A.; Berdougo, E.; Doranz, B.J.; Breslin, P.A.S.; Rucker, J. (2011) Probenecid inhibits the human bitter taste receptor TAS2R16 and suppresses bitter perception of salicin. PLOS One, 6:e20123.

Wise, P.; Breslin, P.A.S. (2011) Relationships among taste qualities assessed with response-context effects. Chemical Senses, 36, 581-587.

Ozdener, M.H.; Brand, J.G.; Speilman, F.G.,; Lischka, F.W.; Teeter, J.; Breslin, P.A.S.; Rawson, N.E. (2011) Characterization of human fungiform papillae cells in culture. Chemical Senses, 36, 601-612.

Peyrot des Gachons, C.; Uchida, K.; Bryant, B.P.; Shima, A.; Sperry, J.B.; Dankulich-Nagrudny, L.; Tominaga, M.; Smith, A.B. III; Beauchamp, G.K.; Breslin, P.A.S. (2011) Unusual pungency from extra-virgin olive oil is attributable to restricted spatial expression of the receptor of oleocanthal. Journal of Neuroscience, 31, 999-1009.

Peyrot des Gachons, C.; Beauchamp, G.K.; Stern, R.M.; Koch, K.L.; Breslin, P.A.S. (2011) Bitter taste induces nausea. Current Biology, 21, R247-R248.

Feng, P.; Wang, H.; Feldman, R.S.; Pribitkin, E.A.; Breslin, P.A.S. (2010) The T Cells in peripheral taste tissue of healthy human adults: Predominant memory T cells and Th-1 cells. Chemical Senses, 35, 501-509.

Related Links

Director, Monell Science Apprenticeship Program
Professor, Rutgers University Department of Nutritional Sciences

Joseph Brand

Member Emeritus

Education

Ph.D., Biophysics; University of Rochester

Research Summary

From the early 1970s until my 2010 retirement, my research was focused on using the techniques of biochemistry, biophysics, and molecular biology to explain chemosensory-directed behavior. While we did not anticipate complete concordance, nevertheless, I was surprised at how much agreement could be observed. Paramount among these was

• a correlation between saltiness and the degree of amiloride–sensitivity of the taste nerve to salty stimuli, and
• a concordance between the ability of mice to taste some bitter stimuli and the ability of these same stimuli to induce production of second messengers in the isolated membranes from taste tissue, all being performed in real time.

In the 21st century we shifted our focus to companion animals and to human, while still wishing to explain behavior at its molecular source. The well-known indifference of cats to sweet compounds was explicable in that the cat sweet taste receptor is a pseudogene. Other more recent projects of the laboratory included

• cloning and characterization of ion channels from human taste tissue that are involved in sour and salty taste;
• reconstitution of taste cell ion channels (for example human ENaC) in lipid bilayers;
• defining the roles of inflammatory signals in normal taste cell turnover and disease (with Dr. H. Wang)

Keywords

taste, biophysics, molecular biology, signal transduction, human taste cells, lipid bilayers, single taste cell pcr, taste receptor genetics

Recent Publications

Huque, T., Cowart, B. J., Dankulich-Nagrudny, L., Pribitkin, E. A., Bayley, D. L., Spielman, A. I. et al. (2009). Sour ageusia in two individuals implicates ion channels of the ASIC and PKD families in human sour taste perception at the anterior tongue. PLoS.One., 4, e7347.

Li, X., Glaser, D., Li, W., Johnson, W. E., O’Brien, S. J., Beauchamp, G. K. et al. (2009). Analyses of sweet receptor gene (Tas1r2) and preference for sweet stimuli in species of Carnivora. Journal of Heredity, 100, S90-S100.

Wang, H., Zhou, M., Brand, J., & Huang, L. (2007). Inflammation activates the interferon signaling pathways in taste bud cells. Journal of Neuroscience, 27, 10703-10713.

Huang, L., Cao, J., Wang, H., Vo, L. A., & Brand, J. G. (2006). Identification and functional characterization of a voltage-gated chloride channel and its novel splice variant in taste bud cells. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 280, 36150-36157.

Li, X., Li, W., Wang, H., Bayley, D. L., Cao, J., Reed, D. R. et al. (2006). Cats lack a sweet taste receptor. Journal of Nutrition, 136 (7Suppl), 1932S-1934S.

Ozdener, M. H., Yee, K. K., Cao, J., Brand, J. G., Teeter, J. H., & Rawson, N. E. (2006). Characterization and long term maintenance of rat taste cells in culture. Chemical Senses 31, 279-290. 2-1-2006.

Kaulin, Y. A., Takemoto, J. Y., Schagina, L. V., Ostroumova, O. S., Wangspa, R., Teeter, J. H. et al. (2005). Sphingolipids influence the sensitivity of lipid bilayers to fungicide, syringomycin E. Journal of Bioenergetics and Biomembranes, 37, 339-399.

Li, X., Li, W., Wang, H., Cao, J., Maehashi, M., Huang, L. et al. (2005). Pseudogenization of a sweet receptor gene accounts for cats’ indifference toward sugar. PLoS Genetics, 1, e3.

Gary Beauchamp

Director & Member

Education

Ph.D., Biopsychology; The University of Chicago

Research Summary

My research interests include: 1) genetics of taste perception; 2) development of human chemosensory perception and preference; 3) genetics and behavior of individual olfactory identity; and 4) adult human flavor perception.

Keywords

salt, sweet, umami, acceptance, genetics, odortype, MHC, food choice, development, oleocanthal

Recent Publications

Jiang, P.; Josue, J.; Li, X.; Glaser, D.; Li, W.; Brand, J.G.; Margolskee, R.F.; Reed, D.R.; Beauchamp, G.K. (2012) Major taste loss in carnivorous mammals. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science USA, 95, 875-881.

Stein, L.J.; Cowart, B.J.; Beauchamp, G.K. (2012) The development of salty taste acceptance is related to dietary experience in human infants: a prospective study. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 95, 123-129.

Beauchamp, G.K.; J.A. Mennella. (2011) Flavor perception in human infants: development and functional significance. Digestion, 83.1, 1-6.

Mennella, J.A.; Lukasewycz, L.D.; Griffith, J.W.; Beauchamp, G.K. (2011) Evaluation of a forced-choice, paired-comparison tracking procedure method for determining taste preferences across the lifespan. Chemical Senses, 36.4, 345-55.

Mennella, J.A.; Lukasewycz, L.D.; Castor, S.M.; Beauchamp, G.K. (2011) The timing and duration of a sensitive period in human flavor learning: a randomized trial. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 93, 1019-24.

Mennella, J.A.; Ventura, A.K.; Beauchamp, G.K. (2011) Differential growth patterns among healthy infants fed protein hydrolysate or cow-milk formulas. Pediatrics, 127.1, 110-18.

Peyrot des Gachons, C.; Beauchamp, G.K.; Stern, R.M.; Koch, K.L.; Breslin, P.A.S. (2011) Bitter taste induces nausea. Current Biology, 21, R247-R248.

Peyrot des Gachons, C.; Uchida, K.; Bryant, B.P.; Shima, A.; Sperry, J.B.; Dankulich-Nagrudny, L.; Tominaga, M.; Smith, A.B. III; Beauchamp, G.K.; Breslin, P.A.S. (2011) Unusual pungency from extra-virgin olive oil is attributable to restricted spatial expression of the receptor of oleocanthal. Journal of Neuroscience, 31.3, 999-1009.

Field, K.L.; Beauchamp, G.K.; Kimball, B.A.; Mennella, J.A.; Bachmanov, A.A. (2010) Bitter avoidance in guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) and mice (Mus musculus and Peromyscus leucopus). Journal of Comparative Psychology, 124, 455-59.

Kwak, J.; Willse, A.; Preti, G.; Yamazaki, K.; Beauchamp, G.K. (2010) In search of the chemical basis for MHC odourtypes. Proceedings of the Royal Society, B277, 2417-25.

John Teeter

Member Emeritus

Education

Ph.D., Physiology; University of Pennsylvania

Research Summary

My research focused on how taste and olfactory receptor cells recognize and respond to chemical stimuli, as well as how this information is ultimately used by animals. Electrophysiological, biophysical and molecular biological techniques were used to identify and characterize the membrane receptors and ion channels that mediate chemosensory responses in several species including sea lampreys, mice and humans.

Recent Publications

Ozdener, M. H., Yee, K. K., Cao, J., Brand, J. G., Teeter, J. H., & Rawson, N. E. (2006). Characterization and long term maintenance of rat taste cells in culture. Chemical Senses, 31, 279-290.

Kaulin, Y. A., Takemoto, J. Y., Schagina, L. V., Ostroumova, O. S., Wangspa, R., Teeter, J. H. et al. (2005). Sphingolipids influence the sensitivity of lipid bilayers to fungicide, syringomycin E. Journal of Bioenergetics and Biomembranes, 37, 339-399.

Chung-Davidson, Y.-W., Yun, S.-S., Teeter, J. H., & Li, W. (2004). Behavioral and brain responses to weak electric fields in parasitic sea lampreys. Behavioral Neuroscience, 118, 611-619.

Grosvenor, W., Kaulin, Y. A., Spielman, A., Bayley, D., Kalinoski, D. L., Teeter, J. H. et al. (2004, electronic publication). Biochemical enrichment and biophysical characterization of a taste receptor for L-arginine from the catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. BMC Neuroscience. doi:10.1186/1471-2202-5-25

Charles J. Wysocki

Member

Education

Ph.D., Psychobiology (Neuroscience); Florida State University

Research Summary

Individuals differ quite substantially in their ability to smell myriad odorants. In some instances a person may not be able to detect an odor when others in the group can clearly perceive it. In other situations all may detect an odor but there is considerable disagreement about what it smells like. I explore this variation at different levels of analyses, e.g., genetic influences, gender differences and the impacts of age and the environment on odor perception. In another area of research I have explored the effects of body odor on the physiology and behavior of individuals who are exposed to the odor. Even among humans there is mounting evidence that we communicate information about ourselves to others via pheromones (chemical communication), often at a subconscious level. This information can be used to identify individuals, to alter hormone systems and to modify mood and emotion.

Keywords

olfaction, vomereonasal, chemical communication, pheromones, intranasal, chemesthesis, psychophysics, behavioral genetics, adaptation/cross-adaptation, behavioral neuroscience, histology

Recent Publications

Olender, T.; Waszak, S.M.; Viavant, M.; Khen, M.; Ben-Asher, E.; Reyes, A.; Nativ, N.; Wysocki, C.J.; et al. (2012) Personal receptor repertoires: olfaction as a model. BMC Genomics, 13.

Knaapila, A.; Hwang, L.D.; Lysenko, A.; Duke, F.F.; Fesi, B.; Khoshnevisan, A.; Wysocki, C.J.; et al. (2012) Genetic analysis of chemosensory traits in human twins. Chemical Senses, 37, 869-881.

Wise, P.M.; Wysocki, C.J.; Lundström, J.N. (2012) Stimulus selection for intranasal sensory isolation: eugenol is an irritant. Chemical Senses, 37, 509-514.

Voznessenskaya, V.V.; Klyuchnikova, M.K.; Wysocki, C.J. (2010) Roles of the main olfactory and vomeronasal systems in the detection of androstenone in inbred strains of mice. Current Zoology, 56, 813-818.

Williams, A.L.; Heineman, P.H.; Wysocki, C.J.; et al. (2010) Prediction of odor pleasantness using electronic nose technology and artificial neural networks. Applied Engineering in Agriculture, 26, 343-350.

Wise, P.M.; Zhao, K.; Wysocki, C.J. (2010) Dynamics of nasal irritation from pulsed homologous alcohols. Chemical Senses, 35, 823-829.

Wysocki, C.J.; Preti, G. (2010) Human Pheromones: What’s Purported, What’s Supported. A Sense of Smell Institute White Paper. The Fragrance Foundation: New York.

Wise, P.M.; Zhao, K.; Wysocki, C.J. (2009) Dynamics of nasal chemesthesis. Annals of the New York Academy of Science, 1170, 206-214.

Wise, P.M.; Toczydlowski, S.E.; Zhao, K.; Wysocki, C.J. (2009) Temporal integration in nasal lateralization of homologous propionates. Inhalation Toxicology, 21, 819-827.

Wysocki, C.J.; Preti, G. (2009) Pheromones in Mammals. In: L.R. Squire. (Ed.) Encylcopedia of Neuroscience. Oxford: Academic Press, 7, 625-632.

Wysocki, C.J.; Louie, J.; Leyden, J.J.; Blank, D.; Gill, M.; Smith, L.; McDermott, K.; Preti, G. (2009) Cross-adaptation of a model human stress-related odor with fragrance chemicals and ethyl esters of axillary odorants: gender-specific effects. Flavour and Fragrance Journal, 24, 209-216.

Gallagher, M.; Wysocki, C.J.; Leyden, J.J.; Spielman, A.I.; Sun, X.; Preti,G. (2008) Analyses of volatile organic compounds from human skin. British Journal of Dermatology, 159, 780-791.

Danielle Reed

Member

Education

Ph.D., Psychology; Yale University

Research Summary

Quantitative genetics is concerned with the inheritance of those differences between individuals that are of a degree rather than of a kind; for instance, the threshold at which someone can experience bitterness or an odorant, or the degree of pleasure that comes from tasting sugars. An understanding of these differences is of fundamental significance and has led to important insights about the molecular mechanisms that underpin the biology of obesity, nutrition, taste and smell.

The focus of my work has been to understand the precise relationship between genotype and phenotype in both humans and rodents, as well as how development and environment can affect those relationships. This research is pursued using linkage analysis and association methods, both of which exploit the behavior of chromosomes during meiosis.

My collaborators and I have conducted projects with linkage analysis for saccharin preference in mice followed by positional cloning, which uncovered a protein that is now known to be the subunit of a sweet receptor (Tas1r3). Similar types of human family-based linkage studies assisted in the identification of a receptor on human chromosome 5 (TAS2R1), which is involved in the perception of the bitter compound propylthiouracil. Likewise, association studies helped to define how haplotypes of the bitter receptor TAS2R38 affect bitter taste perception.

Our ongoing work is aimed at understanding the heritability and molecular underpinnings of obesity and fat patterning; perceived sweet intensity of human twins; the relationship between olfactory receptor genotype and smell phenotypes; and the developmental aspects of genotype-phenotype relationships in human children.

Keywords

sweet, genetics, taste, smell, obesity, genomics, genetic mapping

Recent Publications

Adappa, N.D.; Howland, T.J.; Palmer, J.N.; Kennedy, D.W.; Doghramji, L.; Lysenko, A.; Reed, D.R.; Lee, R.J.; Cohen, N.A. (In Press) Genetics of the taste receptor T2R38 correlates with chronic Rhinosinusitis necessitating surgical intervention. International Forum of Rhinology and Allergy Journal. doi: 10.1002/alr.21140.

Newcomb, R.D.; Xia, M.B.; Reed, D.R. (2012) Heritable differences in chemosensory ability among humans, Flavour, 1.

Mennella, J.A.; Finkbeiner, S.; Reed, D.R. (2012) The proof is in the pudding: children prefer lower fat but higher sugar than do mothers. International Journal of Obesity (London), 36, 1285-1291.

Lipchock, S.V.; Reed, D.R.; Mennella, J.A. (2012) Relationship between bitter-taste receptor genotype and solid medication formulation usage among young children: a retrospective analysis. Clinical Therapeutics, 34, 728-733.

Lee, R.J.; Xiong, G.; Kofonow, J.M.; Chen, B.; Lysenko, A.; Jiang, P.; Abraham, V.; Doghramji, L.; Adappa, N.D.; Palmer, J.N.; Kennedy, D.W.; Beauchamp, G.K.; Paschalis-Thomas, D.; Ischiropoulous, H.; Kreindler, J.L.; Reed, D.R.; Cohen, N.A. (2012) T2R38 taste receptor polymorphisms underlie susceptibility to upper respiratory infection. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 122, 4145-4159.

Knaapila, A.; Zhu, G.; Medland, S.E.; Wysocki, C.J.; Montgomery, G.W.; Martin, N.G.; Wright, M.J.; Reed, D.R. (2012) A genome-wide study on the perception of the odorants androstenone and galaxolide. Chemical Senses, 37, 541-552.

Knaapila, A.; Hwang, L.D.; Lysenko, A.; Duke, F.F.; Fesi, B.; Khoshnevisan, A.; James, R.S.; Wysocki, C.J.; Rhyu, M.; Tordoff, M.G.; BAchmanov, A.A.; Mura, E.; Nagai, H.; Reed, D.R. (2012) Genetic analysis of chemosensory traits in human twins. Chemical Senses, 37, 869-881.

Jiang, P.; Li, X.; Glaser, D.; Li, W.; Brand, J.G.; Margolskee, R.F.; Reed, D.R.; Beauchamp, G.K. (2012) Major taste loss in carnivorous mammals. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, USA, 109, 4956-4961.

Heitmann, B.L.; Westerterp, K.R.; Loos, R.J.; Sorensen, T.I.; O’Dea, K.; McLean, P.; Jensen, T.K.; Eisenmann, J.; Speakman, J.R.; Simpson, S.J.; Reed, D.R.; Westerterp-Plantenga, M.S. (2012) Obesity: lessons from evolution and the environment. Obesity Reviews, 13, 910-922.

Reed, D.R.; Duke, F.F.; Ellis, H.K.; Rosazza, M.R.; Lawler, M.P.; Alarcon, L.K.; Tordoff, M.G. (2011) Body fat distribution and organ weights of 14 common strains and a 22-strain consomic panel of rats. Physiology & Behavior, 103, 523-429.

Lipchock, S.V.; Reed, D.R.; Mennella, J.A. (2011) The gustatory and olfactory systems during infancy: implications for development of feeding behaviors in the high-risk neonate. Clinics in Perinatology, 38, 627-641.

Li, X.; Bachmanov, A.A.; Maehashi, K.; Li, W.; Lim, R.; Brand, J.G.; Thai, C.; Floriano, W.B.; Reed, D.R. (2011) Sweet receptor gene variation and aspartame blindness in primates and other species. Chemical Senses, 36, 453-475.

Reed, D.R.; Zhu, G.; Breslin, P.A.; Duke, F.F.; Henders, A.K.; Campbell, M.J.; Montgomery, G.W.; Medland, S.E.; Martin, N.G.; Wright, M.J. (2010) The perception of quinine taste intensity is associated with common genetic variants in a bitter receptor cluster on chromosome 12. Human Molecular Genetics, 19, 4278-4285.

Reed, D.R.; Knaapila, A. (2010) Genetics of taste and smell: poisons and pleasures. Progress in Molecular Biology & Transitional Science, 94, 213-240.

Reed, D.R. (2010) Heritable variation in fat preference. In: J.P. Montmayeur & J. de Coutre (Eds.) Fat detection: taste, texture, and post-investive effects. Boca Raton: CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, 395-416.

Pelchat, M.L.; Bykowski, C.; Duke, F.F.; Reed, D.R. (2010) Excretion and perception of a characteristic odor in urine after asparagus ingestion: a psychophysical and genetic study. Chemical Senses, 36, 9-17.

Mennella, J.A.; Pepino, M.Y.; Duke, F.F.; Reed, D.R. (2010) Age modifies the genotype-phenotype relationship for the bitter receptor TAS2R38. BMC Genetics, 11, 60.

Mennella, J.A.; Pepino, M.Y.; Duke, F.F.; Reed, D.R. (2010) Psychophysical dissection of genotype effects on human bitter perception. Chemical Senses, 36, 161-167.

Lab Staff

Cailu Lin, Research Associate (with Alexander Bachmanov)
Sarah V. Lipchock, Postdoctoral Fellow (co-mentored with Julie A. Mennella)
Paule V. Joseph, RN & MSN, Graduate student, School of Nursing (co-mentored with Charlene Compher)
Corrine Mansfield, Lab Manager
Brad Fesi, Research Technician
Deborah Lee, Research Technician
Michael Marquis, Research Technician (starting Dec 10th 2012)
Anna Lysenko, Graduate student, Drexel University
Rebecca S. James, Undergraduate, University of Pennsylvania
Mary Xia, Undergraduate, University of Pennsylvania
Wendy Yu, Masters student, University of Pennsylvania
Gabriel Galson, Library

Past Reed Lab Members

Anna Lysenko, Lab manager – Graduate student at Drexel University
Daniel Hwang, Research technician – Graduate student at the University of Washington
Antti Knaapila, Postdoctoral researcher – Postdoctoral Researcher at University of Turku
Amin Khoshnevisan, Research technician – Western University of Health Sciences, Dental School
Fujiko Duke, Lab manager Broad Institute – Research technician for Matthew Meyerson
Amanda McDaniel, Research technician – R & D Scientist at Genisphere
Kirsten Mascioli, Research technician – Graduate Student at Thomas Jefferson University
Ke Lu, Research technician – Researcher at Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Zhenyu Chen, Research technician – unknown – get in touch!
Rameen Starling-Roney, Student – Howard University College of Medicine, MD
Murtaza Shakir, Student – Aga Khan Medical School
Macrina Cooper-White, High school student – Yale University
Abigal Bosk, High school student – Wheaton College
Minna Bak, High school student – University of Pennsylvania
Sarah Obenrader, High school student – Davidson College
Brian Gantick, Research technician – Web designer
Mauricio Avigdor, Research technician – Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research
Laurie Pippett, Research technician – Senior Administrative Assistant at Kelly Services

Twinsburg Alumni

Class of 2012

Tiffany Weiss Aleman
Seth Brockman
Fujiko Duke
Brad Fesi
Daniel Hwang
Anna Lysenko
Alex Mangroo
Kevin Redding

Class of 2011

Seth Brockman
Danielle Crawford
Fujiko Duke
Daniel Hwang
Matt Kirkey
Anna Lysenko
Kevin Redding

Class of 2010

Laura Alarcon
Calvin Alarcon
Fujiko Duke
Brian R. Gantick
Matt Kirkey
Antti Knaapila
Amin Koshnevisan
Michelle Murphy
Tom Uleau

Class of 2009

Laura Alarcon
Fujiko Duke
Brian Gantick
Ryan McDermott

Johan Lundström

Associate Member

Education

Ph.D., Psychology; Uppsala University, Sweden

Research Summary

My research is aimed toward a better understanding of the cerebral basis for chemosensory and multimodal processing. Several different lines of ongoing research explore how the human brain allows us to perceive, process, and understand chemosensory and multimodal information. In particular, our lab is concerned with the complex processing of social chemosignals, signals that act along the border between perception and cognition. Lately, we are also investigating the neuronal basis of multimodal processing using our chemical senses, a natural multimodal sensation, as a stepping board.

Keywords

neuroscience, biological psychology, sensation & perception, chemical communication, multimodal processing, brain imaging

Recent Publications

Seubert, J.; Freiherr, J.; Frasnelli, J.; Hummel, T.; Lundström, J.N. (In press) Orbitofrontal cortex and olfactory bulb volume predict distinct aspects of olfactory performance in healthy subjects. Cerebral Cortex. doi: 10.1093/cercor/bhs230

Åhs, F.; Miller, S.S.; Gordon, A.R.; Lundström, J.N. (2013) Aversive learning increases sensory detection sensitivity. Biological Psychology, 92, 135-141.

Miller, S.S.; Gordon, A.R.; Olsson, M.J.; Lundström, J.N.; Dalton, P. (2013) Mind over age: Social priming and olfactory function. Chemical Senses, 38, 167-174.

Seubert, J.; Freiherr, J.; Djordjevic, J.; Lundström, J.N. (2013) Statistical localization of human olfactory cortex. NeuroImage, 66, 333-342.

Frasnelli, J.; Lundström, J.N.; Schöpf, V.; Negoias, S.; Hummel, T.; Lepore, F. (2012) Dual processing streams in chemosensory processing. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 6, 288.

Wise, P.; Wysocki, C.J.; Lundström, J.N. (2012) Stimulus selection for intranasal sensory isolation: eugenol is an irritant. Chemical Senses, 37, 509-514.

Mitro, S.; Gordon, A.R.; Olsson, M.J.; Lundström, J.N. (2012). The smell of age: perception and discrimination of body odors of different ages. PLoS ONE, 7, e38110.

Jadauji, J.B.; Djordjevic, J.; Lundström, J.N.; Pack, C.C. (2012). Modulation of olfactory perception by visual cortex stimulation. Journal of Neuroscience, 32, 3095-3100.

Lundström, J.N.; Gordon, A.R.; Wise, P.; Frasnelli, J. (2012) Individual differences in the chemical senses: is there a common sensitivity? Chemical Senses, 37, 371-378.

Freiherr, J.; Boesveldt, S.; Gordon, A.R.; Alden, E.C.; Hernandez, M.; Lundström, J.N. (2011) The 40-item Monell Extended Sniffin’ Sticks Identification Test (MONEX-40). Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 205,10-16.

Frasnelli, J.; Albrecht, J.; Bryant, B.; Lundström, J.N. (2011) Perception of specific trigeminal chemosensory receptor agonists. Neuroscience, 189, 377-383.

Boesveldt, S.; Tessler-Linday, S.; Schumm, L.P.; McClintock, M.K.; Hummel, T.; Lundström, J.N. (2011) Gustatory and olfactory dysfunction in older adults: a national probability study. Rhinology, 49, 324-330.

Veldhuizen, M.G.; Albrecht, J.; Zelano, C.; Boesveldt, S.; Breslin, P.; Lundström, J.N. (2011) Identification of human gustatory cortex by activation likelihood estimation. Human Brain Mapping, 32, 2256-2266.

Frasnelli, J.; Lundström, J.N.; Boyle, J.A.; Katsarkas, E.; Jones-Gotman, M. (2011) The vomeronasal organ is not involved in the perception of endogenous odors. Human Brain Mapping, 32, 450-460.

Lundström, J.N.; Gordon, A.R.; Albrecht, J.; Alden, E. C.; Boesveldt, S. (2010) Methods for building an inexpensive computer-controlled olfactometer for temporally precise behavioral experiments. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 83, 1-23.

Boesveldt, S.; Olsson, M.J.; Lundström, J.N. (2010) Carbon chain length and the stimulus problem in olfaction. Behavioral Brain Research, 215, 110-113.

Boesveldt, S.; Frasnelli, J.; Gordon, A.R.; Lundström, J.N. (2010) The fish gone bad: negative food odors elicit faster and more accurate reactions than other odors. Biological Psychology, 84, 313-317.

Albrecht, J.; Kopietz, R.; Frasnelli, J.; Wiesmann, M.; Hummel T.; Lundström, J.N. (2010) The neuronal correlates of intranasal trigeminal function – An ALE meta-analysis of human functional brain imaging data. Brain Research Review, 62, 183-196.

Frasnelli, J.; Lundström, J.N.; Boyle, J.A.; Djordjevic, J.; Zatorre, R.J.; Jones-Gotman, M. (2010) Neuroanatomical correlates of olfactory performance. Experimental Brain Research, 201, 1-11.

Lab Staff

Janina Seubert, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow
Valentina Parm, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow
Amy Gordon, B.A., Graduate Student
Kristen Gregory, B.A., Research Technician

Graeme Lowe

Associate Member

Education

Ph.D., Physics; California Institute of Technology

Research Summary

The overall goal of my research is to determine the cellular mechanisms important for the coding and processing of olfactory information in the nervous system. In the nose, olfactory receptors detect volatile chemicals and transmit messages to the brain encoded as dynamic patterns of electrical activity. These patterns are mapped to the olfactory bulb where they are filtered and transformed by multiple layers of neuronal circuits. My laboratory is studying how sensory signals are processed and reshaped by intricate networks of synaptic relays in the olfactory bulb. We apply a variety of electrophysiological and optical techniques in vitro and in vivo, to probe functions of olfactory circuits in both wild-type and transgenic mice. This research will yield deeper insights into how we detect and perceive odors. It also has broad significance for understanding how neurons are wired together to solve specific computational problems. Reverse engineering of biological olfactory systems may inspire novel designs in the development of artificial chemical sensors.

Keywords

olfaction, electrophysiology, optical imaging, olfactory bulb, synaptic, action potential, neurophysiology, neurotransmitter, neuromodulation, calcium imaging

Recent Publications

Ma, J.; Dankulich-Nagrudny, L.; Lowe, G. (2013) Cholecystokinin: An excitatory modulator of mitral/tufted cells in the mouse olfactory bulb. PLoS ONE 8(5): e64170. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0064170

Furudono, Y.; Cruz, G.; Lowe, G. (2013) Glomerular input patterns in the mouse olfactory bulb evoked by retronasal odor stimuli. BMC Neuroscience, 14. doi: 10.1186/1471-2202-14-45

Cruz, G.; Lowe, G. (2013) Neural coding of binary mixtures in a structurally related odorant pair. Scientific Reports, 3, 1220, 1–11.

Lowe, G. (2013) Olfactory bulb: Synaptic organization. In: Encyclopedia of Life Sciences. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. http://www.els.net doi: 10.1002/9780470015902.a0020289.pub2

Lowe, G. (2012) Introduction to Olfaction – Physiology. In: Nakamoto, T. (Ed.) Human Olfactory Displays and Interfaces: Odor Sensing and Presentation. IGI Global, 1–43.

McQuade, L.E.; Ma, J.; Lowe, G.; Ghatpande, A; Gelperin. A; Lippard, S.J. (2010) Visualization of nitric oxide production in the mouse main olfactory bulb by a cell–trappable copper(II) fluorescent probe. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 107, 8525–8530.

Ma, J.; Lowe, G. (2010) Correlated firing in tufted cells of mouse olfactory bulb. Neuroscience, 169, 1715-1738.

Lowe, G. (2009) Slice Blotting. In: Kurien, B.T.; Scofield, R.H. (Eds.) Western Blotting. Methods of Molecular Biology. The Humana Press, Inc., 67–74.

Lowe, G.; Buerk, D.G.; Ma, J.; Gelperin, A. (2008) Tonic and stimulus-evoked nitric oxide production in the mouse olfactory bulb. Neuroscience, 153, 842-850.

Ma, J.; Lowe, G. (2007) Calcium permeable AMPA receptors and autoreceptors in external tufted cells of rat olfactory bulb. Neuroscience, 144, 1094-1108.

Ma, J.; Lowe, G. (2004) Action potential backpropagation and multiglomerular signaling in the rat vomeronasal system. Neuroscience, 24, 9341-9352.

Lowe, G. (2003) Electrical Signaling in the Olfactory Bulb. Current Opinion in Neurobiology, 13, 476–481.

Lowe, G. (2003) Flash photolysis reveals a diversity of ionotropic glutamate receptors on the mitral cell somatodendritic membrane. Journal of Neurophysiology, 90, 1737–1746.

Mark Friedman

Member

Education

Ph.D., Physiological Psychology; Princeton University

Research Summary

My research is directed at the bodily mechanisms that control eating behavior. The focus is on identifying those changes in energy metabolism that serve as signals controlling food intake and characterizing how these signals are detected and transmitted to the brain. This work has implications for understanding the behavioral contribution to energy balance and for treating disturbances in food intake and appetite.

Keywords

appetite, energy metabolism, liver, obesity, feeding behavior

Recent Publications

Horn, C.C.; Still, L.; Fitzgerald, C; Friedman, M.I. (2010) Food restriction, refeeding, and gastric fill fail to affect emesis in musk shrews. American Journal of Physiology, 298, G25-30.

Ji, H.; Friedman, M.I. (2008) Reduced hepatocyte fatty acid oxidation in outbred rats pre-screened for susceptibility to diet-induced obesity. International Journal of Obesity, 32, 1331-1334.

Friedman, M.I. (2008) Food intake: Control, regulation and the illusion of dysregulation. In: Harris, R.; Mattes, R. (Eds) Appetite and Food Intake: Behavioral and Physiological Considerations, Boca Raton: CRC Press, 1-19.

Friedman, M.I. (2007) Obesity and the hepatic control of feeding behavior. Drug News & Perspectives, 20, 573-578.

Ji, H.; Friedman, M.I. (2007) Reduced capacity for fatty acid oxidation in rats with inherited susceptibility to diet-induced obesity. Metabolism, 56, 1124-1130.

Ji, H.; Outterbridge, L.V.; Friedman, M.I. (2005) Phenotype-based treatment for dietary obesity: Differential effects of fenofibrate in obesity-prone and obesity-resistant rats. Metabolism, 54, 421-429.

Ji, H.; Friedman, M.I. (2003) Fasting plasma triglyceride levels and fat oxidation predict dietary obesity in rats. Physiology & Behavior, 78, 767-772.

Alexander Bachmanov

Member

Education

D.V.M., Saint Petersburg Veterinary Institute
Ph.D., Biological Sciences; Pavlov Institute of Physiology

Research Summary

My research is focused on genetics of taste, ingestive behavior and alcohol intake. I use the laboratory mouse as a model organism. My studies are based on genetic variation among mouse strains. I use mice with contrasting phenotypes for genetic analyses. The goal of these analyses is to find chromosomal locations of genes involved in taste-related behavior, with an ultimate goal to identify the molecular identity of these genes using the positional cloning approach. In addition, I use physiological and behavioral techniques to better understand mechanisms responsible for genetic differences in taste-related behavior.

My research approach has a potential to discover novel genes relevant to taste, nutrition and addiction and has several applications to human health. Human orthologs of these genes can be examined for their association with relevant phenotypes in human populations. Proteins encoded by these genes could be used to screen for new taste or drug compounds.

Keywords

taste, genetics, ingestive behavior, alcohol intake, obesity, neuroscience

Recent Publications

Cherukuri, C.M.; Bachmanov, A.A.; McCaugheym S.A. (2013) A/J and C57BL/6J mice differ in chorda tympani responses to NaCl. Neuroscience Research, 75, 283-288.

Kim, A.; Feng, P.; Ohkuri, T.; Sauers, D.; Cohn, Z.J.; Chai, J. Nelson, T.; Bachmanov, A.A.; Huang, L.; Wang, H. (2012) Defects in the peripheral taste structure and function in MRL/lpr mouse model of autoimmune disease. PLoS ONE, 7, e35588.

Knaapila, A.; Hwangm L.D.; Lysenko, A.; Duke, F.F.; Fesi, B.; Khoshnevisan, A.; James, R.S.; Wysocki, C.J.; Rhyu, M.; Tordoff, M.G.; Bachmanov, A.A.; Mura, E.; Nagai, H.; Reed, D.R. (2012) Genetic analysis of chemosensory traits in human twins. Chemical Senses, 37, 869-881.

Bachmanov, A.A.; Boughter, J.D. (2012) Genetics of Taste Perception. In: Encyclopedia of Life Sciences, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd: Chichester.

Ishiwatari, Y.; Bachmanov, A.A. (2012) NaCl taste thresholds in 13 inbred mouse strains. Chemical Senses, 37, 497-508.

Golden, G.J.; Ishiwatari, Y.; Theodorakis, M.J.; Bachmanov, A.A. (2011) Effect of chorda tympani nerve transection on salt taste perception in mice. Chemical Senses, 36, 811-819.

Li, X.; Bachmanov, A.A.; Maehashi, K.; Li, W.; Lim, R.; Brand, J.; Beauchamp, G.K.; Reed, D.R.; Thai, C.; Floriano, W.B. (2011) Sweet taste receptor gene variation and aspartame taste in primates and other species. Chemical Senses, 36, 453-475.

Bachmanov, A.A.; Bosak, N.; Floriano, W.B.; Inoue, M.; Li, X.; Lin, C.; Murovets, V.O.; Reed, D.R.; Zolotarev, V.A.; Beauchamp, G.K. (2011) Genetics of sweet taste preferences. Flavour and Fragrance Journal, 26, 286–294.

Bachmanov, A.A. (2010) Umami: fifth taste? Flavor enhancer?. Perfumer and Flavorist, 35, 52-58.

Field, K.L.; Beauchamp, G.K.; Kimball, B.A.; Mennella, J.A.; Bachmanov, A.A. (2010) Bitter avoidance in guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) and mice (Mus musculus and Peromyscus leucopus). Journal of Comparative Psychology, 124, 455-459.

Murovets, V.O.; Zolotarev, V.A.; Bachmanov, A.A. (2010) The role of the Sac locus in the alcohol taste preference in inbred mouse strains. Doklady Biological Sciences, 432, 181-183.

Nelson, T.M.; Lopez Jimenez, N.D.; Tessarollo, L.; Inoue, M.; Bachmanov, A.A.; Sullivan, S.L. (2010) Taste function in mice with a targeted mutation of the Pkd1l3 gene. Chemical Senses, 35, 565-577.

Bachmanov, A.A.; Inoue, M.; Ji, H.; Murata, Y.; Tordoff, M.; Beauchamp, G.K. (2009) Glutamate taste and appetite in laboratory mice: physiologic and genetic analyses. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 90, 756S-763S.

Lab Staff

Natalia Bosak, Research Associate
Amy Colihan, Laboratory Assistant
Cailu Lin, Postdoctoral Fellow
Maria Theodorides, Senior Research Specialist

Related Links

Monell Mouse Taste Phenotyping Project
Mouse Phenome Database, posted at the Neuroscience Mutagenesis Facility of The Jackson Laboratory
Association for Chemoreception Sciences
International Mammalian Genome Society
Research Society on Alcoholism
Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism