Gaerlan Malaya, Carrillo Marco, Ceva Sofia, Chundi Sowmya, Diallo Binta, Fong Juliana N, Huang Kelly, Jackson Jennifer, Padilla Jasmine, Quintana Leslie, Santa Maria Katelyn, Sarkisian Sadie M, Sequeira Paloma R, Tatlock Eva U, Baker Penelope R, Bachmann Luise, Park Soyeon, Perez Malia J, Phipps Mina E, Sharma Shay Nair, Soto-Hernandez Yvette, Juarez Bryan H, Mena Cesar, Morales Griselda, Gonzalez Mabel, Fiocca Katherine, Bradon Nicole, Madrzyk Max, O'Connell Lauren A
BIO161 Organismal Biology Lab, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States.
Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States.
MicroPubl Biol. 2025 May 31;2025. doi: 10.17912/micropub.biology.001531. eCollection 2025.
Ants use a range of compounds for interspecies interactions, but the neurogenetic mechanisms mediating these interactions are unclear. Here, we used chemotaxis assays with the nematode to test if ant compounds can be detected by the worm nervous system and which chemosensory neurons are required for detection. We found that avoid the extracts of velvety tree ants ( ), and this response requires and positive neurons. These experiments were conducted by undergraduate students in an upper-division laboratory course, demonstrating how simple behavior assays conducted in a classroom setting can provide practical research experiences and new insights into interspecies interactions.
蚂蚁利用一系列化合物进行种间相互作用，但其介导这些相互作用的神经遗传机制尚不清楚。在此，我们对线虫进行趋化性测定，以测试蚂蚁化合物是否能被线虫神经系统检测到，以及检测需要哪些化学感应神经元。我们发现线虫会避开绒毛树蚁（ ）的提取物，而这种反应需要 和 阳性神经元。这些实验由本科生在一门高年级实验课程中进行，展示了在课堂环境中进行的简单行为测定如何能够提供实际研究经验以及对种间相互作用的新见解。
