Jean-Paul Paluzzi

Research Interests

Neuroendocrine factors regulating biological processes in human disease vectors
Neurohormones and their cognate cellular receptors play an integral role in the physiology of animals regulating essential processes including reproduction, development, growth, feeding, and hydromineral balance. Research in my lab focuses on neuroendocrine factors that control peripheral tissues. For example, in gut epithelia, these hormones can elicit signaling cascades that lead to changes in membrane transport proteins and channels involved in water and ion homeostasis. Using a multi pronged approach combining physiological, cellular, genetic and molecular biology methodologies, we examine neuroendocrine mechanisms and their cellular signal transduction pathways with interests particularly on blood feeding arthropods that are vectors of human disease. In addition to identifying the extracellular signals (i.e. hormones) necessary for initiating the response to cellular and whole organism stresses, our research aims to functionally elucidate the proteins that permit communication between the nervous system-derived hormones and their peripheral cellular and tissue targets within the body.

Research Areas

UN Goals