A new study in The Lancet confirms a rabies monoclonal antibody therapy, co-developed by UMass Chan, is a safe alternative to existing rabies immune globulins.

Neuron-specific expression of particular gap junction channel components defines the configuration and functional properties of electrical synapses. However, how a neuron utilises multiple, simultaneo...

Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs play important roles in neurons, contributing to nervous system development, synapse formation, and activity-dependent plasticity. Claudins, the cell-adhesion molecules k...

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Collective animal behaviors arise from a complex interplay between internal physiological states and external environmental cues. In Caenorhabditis elegans, favorable conditions promote dispersal, while stressors like food scarcity or overcrowding trigger aggregation. Here, we describe a distinct behavior termed as swarming, where C. elegans move and feed in aggregates despite abundant food availability. While environmental factors have been implicated in this behavior, the underlying genetic and molecular mechanisms remain unclear. We identify a novel role for the conserved calsyntenin protein CASY-1 in regulating swarming. Through genetic, behavioral, and optogenetic approaches, we show that CASY-1 functions in sensory neurons to modulate the neuropeptide pigment-dispersing factor (PDF) signaling. Mutants in casy-1 show impaired PDF-1 signaling and reduced inhibition of the serotonin pathway, a known regulator of social behaviors. This dysregulation, along with its associated mechanosensory and foraging defects, likely contributes to the swarming phenotype. Our findings reveal a putative neuromodulatory pathway critical for swarming behavior in C. elegans. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. Wellcome Trust/DBT India Alliance, https://ror.org/04reqzt68, IA/S/19/2/504649 ANRF-POWER

Locomotion is essential for executing most behaviours. In Caenorhabditis elegans. Efficient locomotion is exhibited as a result of the coordination of excitatory and inhibitory signals from the nervou...

Foraging is essential for sustenance and well-being of all organisms. The transition from well-fed to food-deprived conditions in C. elegans triggers a localized exploration of the environment charact...

About the Opportunity Job Summary The Apfeld Lab at Northeastern University is seeking a postdoctoral researcher to investigate how genes work together to determine the maximum lifespan of the nematod...

We’re thrilled to announce the launch of openRxiv as an independent nonprofit to oversee bioRxiv and medRxiv, the world’s leading preprint servers for life and health sciences. openRxiv ensures that r...