Short Bio
My name is Geraldine Ortiz Sosa. I am originally from Cayey, Puerto Rico and earned my degree in Natural Sciences with a minor in Neuroscience from the University of Puerto Rico at Cayey. Currently, I am exploring gut-microbiome interactions, specifically investigating the effects of probiotic administration on Drosophila behavior. My goal after completing the program is to pursue a Ph.D. to expand my understanding of the complex relationship between the microbiome and neurological diseases.
A fun fact or hobby: My hobbies include coffee shop hopping, reading about cosmology, and discovering new music.
Research
Mentor:
Imilce Rodríguez Fernández, PhD
Co-mentor:
Andrew Seeds, PhD
Project Title:
Exploring the Behavioral Effects of the Probiotic Lactiplantibacillus plantarum in Drosophila and the Role of the Intestinal Alpha-4 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor
Project Description:
The gut-microbiota-brain axis is a complex communication network that links the gut, its microbiota, and the brain, influencing both gastrointestinal homeostasis and behavior. This project explores the role of acetylcholine (ACh) signaling in the Drosophila gut, focusing on Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (L. plantarum), a probiotic known to produce ACh. Using transgenic flies with gut-specific knockdown of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor alpha 4 (nAChRa4), we assessed the impact of L. plantarum (strain LpWF) on locomotor behavior. Our findings indicate that L. plantarum administration alters motor function in young adult flies in an AChRɑ4-dependent manner, suggesting a role for gut-specific ACh signaling. Additionally, we developed a novel protocol to detect neurotransmitter production in bacterial biofilms, with preliminary results indicating ACh presence in L. plantarum and E. coli biofilms. Future work will investigate the effects of L. plantarum on additional behaviors and further characterize the molecular mechanisms underlying ACh-mediated gut-brain communication.