Neural mechanisms of perceptual learning

The traditional view of cortical visual processing is that primary visual cortex (V1) analyzes simple visual attributes, and that object recognition involves a progressive “complexification” of receptive field (RF) properties along the visual pathway extending into the temporal lobe. Based on our studies with a combination of electrophysiological, imaging, psychophysical and computational approaches, we find to the contrary that V1 is capable of encoding much more complex stimulus features than originally believed, and that it can integrate information over large parts of the visual field. Moreover, V1 is continually involved in encoding information about learned stimulus configurations under top-down influences specific to the trained perceptual task.     

Newly identified genetic risk variants for celiac disease related to the immune response

Our genome-wide association study of celiac disease previously identified risk variants in the IL2-IL21 region. To identify additional risk variants, we genotyped 1,020 of the most strongly associated non-HLA markers in an additional 1,643 cases and 3,406 controls. Through joint analysis including the genome-wide association study data (767 cases, 1,422 controls), we identified seven previously unknown risk regions (P < 5 x 10(-7)). Six regions harbor genes controlling immune responses, including CCR3, IL12A, IL18RAP, RGS1, SH2B3 (nsSNP rs3184504) and TAGAP. Whole-blood IL18RAP mRNA expression correlated with IL18RAP genotype. Type 1 diabetes and celiac disease share HLA-DQ, IL2-IL21, CCR3 and SH2B3 risk regions. Thus, this extensive genome-wide association follow-up study has identified additional celiac disease risk variants in relevant biological pathways.     

Neural mechanisms of perceptual learning

The traditional view of cortical visual processing is that primary visual cortex (V1) analyzes simple visual attributes, and that object recognition involves a progressive “complexification” of receptive field (RF) properties along the visual pathway extending into the temporal lobe. Based on our studies with a combination of electrophysiological, imaging, psychophysical and computational approaches, we find to the contrary that V1 is capable of encoding much more complex stimulus features than originally believed, and that it can integrate information over large parts of the visual field. Moreover, V1 is continually involved in encoding information about learned stimulus configurations under top-down influences specific to the trained perceptual task.     

Evolutionary and biomedical implications of a Schistosoma japonicum complementary DNA resource

Schistosoma japonicum causes schistosomiasis in humans and livestock in the Asia-Pacific region. Knowledge of the genome of this parasite should improve understanding of schistosome-host interactions, biomedical aspects of schistosomiasis and invertebrate evolution. We assigned 43,707 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) derived from adult S. japonicum and their eggs to 13,131 gene clusters. Of these, 35% shared no similarity with known genes and 75% had not been reported previously in schistosomes. Notably, S. japonicum encoded mammalian-like receptors for insulin, progesterone, cytokines and neuropeptides, suggesting that host hormones, or endogenous parasite homologs, could orchestrate schistosome development and maturation and that schistosomes modulate anti-parasite immune responses through inhibitors, molecular mimicry and other evasion strategies.