Biology subjects

Romani, A.

Publications and source records attributed to Romani, A..

11 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Do we understand orientation selectivity? A simulation study

Orientation selectivity in the visual cortex has been extensively studied since it was disovered in 1959. In this article we demonstrate that current mechanistic explanations of orientation selectivity in the visual cortex, which appear to work in simplified models, do not suffice when embedded in a more realistic network. Up to now, orientation selectivity has only been reproduced in models with distance-dependent connectivity and limited cellular diversity. We therefore constructed a mouse primary visual cortex model with, among other refinements, realistic neuronal diversity and morphologically constrained connectivity. We implemented proposed mechanisms of orientation selectivity - specifically the organization of thalamocortical input into elliptical subfields and peferential connectivity between neurons with similar receptive fields - within this model. In the process we explored limitations of pure anatomy in predicting the connectivity and function of the cortex. Simulations of our model did not reproduce realistic levels of orientation selectivy. This indicates that these mechanisms, despite working well in simpler models, are not sufficient to explain orientation selectivity in real brain networks. On the basis of our results, we suggest the hypothesis that homeostatic plasticity is necessary to reconcile orientation selectivity with realistic connectivity.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2026

CO2 emission at a hypersaline shallow lake at sediment-atmosphere interface. The significance of the organomineral upper crust as an active barrier.

Saline endorheic shallow playa-lakes are ecosystems susceptible to extreme geochemical changes because of severe hydro-climatic fluctuations. Under dry conditions, a rigid salt crust can separate the underlying sediments from the atmosphere. This interface is an organic-mineral assemblage of benthic biofilm encapsulated by evaporitic salts. It is well known that its structure, composition and consistency control water evaporation from underlying sediments, but its role in CO2 fluxes is unknown. We therefore measured the CO2 exchanges from sediments and the atmosphere in a hypersaline playa-lake characterized by a thin organic-mineral benthic crust upon drying. Results show that the largest CO2 release to the atmosphere occurs when ambient temperature and sediment humidity are high and low respectively. Nonetheless fluxes were lower than those reported for typical dry freshwater sediments and other hypersaline lagoons. The dry crust contains sedimentary structures that likely reflect the gaseous pressure from the underlying sediments, and its removal provokes a significant increase in net CO2 fluxes. Thus, this interface exerts physical control over both water evaporation and gases exchange such as CO2. Nevertheless, prolonged and severe droughts threaten the integrity of the crust: cracks together with bio-induced burrows and tunnels, likely create preferential pathways for CO2 leakage and enhance oxygen diffusion within the sediments and likely promote aerobic heterotrophic activity, explaining the CO2 leakage observed just below the organic-mineral crust.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2025

Dynamics of Bacterial and Viral Transmission in Experimental Microbiota Transplantation

Mouse models are vital tools for discerning the relative contributions of host and microbial genetics to disease, often requiring the transplantation of microbiota between different mouse strains. Transfer methods include antibiotic treatment of recipients and colonization using either co-housing with donors or the transplantation of fecal or cecal donor material. However, the efficiency and dynamics of these methods in reconstituting recipients with donor microbes is not well understood. We thus directly compared co-housing, fecal transplantation, and cecal transplantation methods. Donor mice from Taconic Biosciences, possessing distinct microbial communities, served as the microbial source for recipient mice from Jackson Laboratories, which were treated with antibiotics to disrupt their native microbiota. We monitored bacterial and viral populations longitudinally over the course of antibiotics treatment and reconstitution using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, quantitative PCR, and shotgun sequencing of viral-like particles. As expected, antibiotic treatment rapidly depleted microbial biomass and diversity, with slow and incomplete natural recovery of the microbiota in non-transplanted control mice. While all transfer methods reconstituted recipient mice with donor microbiota, co-housing achieved this more rapidly for both bacterial and viral communities. This study provides valuable insights into microbial transfer methods, enhancing reproducibility and informing best practices for microbiota transplantation in mouse models.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2024

An extended and improved CCFv3 annotation and Nissl atlas of the entire mouse brain

Brain atlases are essential for quantifying cellular composition in mouse brain regions. The Allen Institutes Common Coordinate Framework version 3 (CCFv3) is widely used, delineating over 600 anatomical regions, but it lacks coverage for the most rostral and caudal brain parts, including the main olfactory bulb, cerebellum, and medulla. Additionally, the CCFv3 omits key cerebellar layers, and its corresponding Nissl-stained reference volume is not precisely aligned, limiting its utilisability. To address these issues, we developed an extended atlas, the Blue Brain Project CCFv3 augmented (CCFv3aBBP), which includes a fully annotated mouse brain and an improved Nissl reference aligned in the CCFv3. This enhanced atlas also features the central nervous system annotation (CCFv3cBBP). Using this resource, we aligned 734 Nissl-stained brains to produce an average Nissl template, enabling an updated distribution of neuronal soma positions. These data are available as an open-source resource, broadening applications such as improved alignment precision, cell type mapping, and multimodal data integration.

bioinformatics↗

bioRxiv2023

Community-based Reconstruction and Simulation of a Full-scale Model of Region CA1 of Rat Hippocampus

The CA1 region of the hippocampus is one of the most studied regions of the rodent brain, thought to play an important role in cognitive functions such as memory and spatial navigation. Despite a wealth of experimental data on its structure and function, it has been challenging to reconcile information obtained from diverse experimental approaches. To address this challenge, we present a community-driven, full-scale in silico model of the rat CA1 that integrates a broad range of experimental data, from synapse to network, including the reconstruction of its principal afferents, the Schaffer collaterals, and a model of the effects that acetylcholine has on the system. We tested and validated each model component and the final network model, and made input data, assumptions, and strategies explicit and transparent. The unique flexibility of the model allows scientists to address a range of scientific questions. In this article, we describe the methods used to set up simulations that reproduce and extend in vitro and in vivo experiments. Among several applications in the article, we focus on theta rhythm, a prominent hippocampal oscillation associated with various behavioral correlates and use our computer model to reproduce and reconcile experimental findings. Finally, we make data, code and model available through the hippocampushub.eu portal, which also provides an extensive set of analyses of the model and a user-friendly interface to facilitate adoption and usage. This neuroscience community-driven model represents a valuable tool for integrating diverse experimental data and provides a foundation for further research into the complex workings of the hippocampal CA1 region.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2023

Modeling and Simulation of Neocortical Micro- and Mesocircuitry. Part II: Physiology and Experimentation

Cortical dynamics underlie many cognitive processes and emerge from complex multi-scale interactions, which are challenging to study in vivo. Large-scale, biophysically detailed models offer a tool which can complement laboratory approaches. We present a model comprising eight somatosensory cortex subregions, 4.2 million morphological and electrically-detailed neurons, and 13.2 billion local and mid-range synapses. In silico tools enabled reproduction and extension of complex laboratory experiments under a single parameterization, providing strong validation. The model reproduced millisecond-precise stimulus-responses, stimulus-encoding under targeted optogenetic activation, and selective propagation of stimulus-evoked activity to downstream areas. The models direct correspondence with biology generated predictions about how multiscale organization shapes activity; for example, how cortical activity is shaped by high-dimensional connectivity motifs in local and mid-range connectivity, and spatial targeting rules by inhibitory subpopulations. The latter was facilitated using a rewired connectome which included specific targeting rules observed for different inhibitory neuron types in electron microscopy. The model also predicted the role of inhibitory interneuron types and different layers in stimulus encoding. Simulation tools and a large subvolume of the model are made available to enable further community-driven improvement, validation and investigation.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2022

Neuromodulatory organization in the developing rat somatosensory cortex

The vast majority of cortical synapses are found in the neuropil which is implicated in multiple and diverse functions underlying brain computation. Unraveling the organizing principles of the cortical neuropil requires an intricate characterization of synaptic connections established by excitatory and inhibitory axon terminals, of intrinsic and extrinsic origin and from ascending projections that govern the function of cortical microcircuits through the release of neuromodulators either through point-to-point chemical synapses or diffuse volume transmission (VT). Even though neuromodulatory release has been studied for almost a century it is still not clear if one modality prevails upon the other. The hindlimb representation of the somatosensory cortex (HLS1) of two-week old Wistar rats has served as a model system to dissect the microcircuitry of neurons and their synaptic connections. In the present study, we quantified the fiber length per cortical volume and the density of varicosities for cholinergic, catecholaminergic and serotonergic neuromodulatory systems in the cortical neuropil using immunocytochemical staining and stereological techniques. Acquired data were integrated into a novel computational framework to reconcile the specific modalities and predict the effects of neuromodulatory release in shaping neocortical network activity. We predict that acetylcholine (ACh), dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT) release desynchronizes cortical activity by inhibiting slow oscillations (delta range), and that 5-HT triggers faster oscillations (theta). Moreover, we found that high levels (>40%) of neuromodulatory VT are sufficient to induce network desynchronization, but also that combining volume release with synaptic inputs leads to more robust and stable effects, meaning that lower levels of VT are needed to achieve the same outcome (10%).

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2022

Modeling and Simulation of Rat Non-Barrel Somatosensory Cortex. Part I: Modeling Anatomy

The function of the neocortex is fundamentally determined by its repeating microcircuit motif, but also by its rich, interregional connectivity. We present a data-driven computational model of the anatomy of non-barrel primary somatosensory cortex of juvenile rat, integrating whole-brain scale data while providing cellular and subcellular specificity. The model consists of 4.2 million morphologically detailed neurons, placed in a digital brain atlas. They are connected by 14.2 billion synapses, comprising local, mid-range and extrinsic connectivity. We delineated the limits of determining connectivity from neuron morphology and placement, finding that it reproduces targeting by Sst+ neurons, but requires additional specificity to reproduce targeting by PV+ and VIP+ interneurons. Globally, connectivity was characterized by local clusters tied together through hub neurons in layer 5, demonstrating how local and interegional connectivity are complicit, inseparable networks. The model is suitable for simulation-based studies, and a 211,712 neuron subvolume is made openly available to the community.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2020

Consolidated bioprocessing of corn cob-derived hemicellulose: engineered industrial Saccharomyces cerevisiae as efficient whole cell biocatalysts

Consolidated bioprocessing, which combines saccharolytic and fermentative abilities in a single microorganism, is receiving increased attention to decrease environmental and economic costs in lignocellulosic biorefineries. Nevertheless, the economic viability of lignocellulosic ethanol is also dependent of an efficient utilization of the hemicellulosic fraction, which is mainly composed of xylose and may comprise up to 40 % of the total biomass. This major bottleneck is mainly due to the necessity of chemical/enzymatic treatments to hydrolyze hemicellulose into fermentable sugars and to the fact that xylose is not readily consumed by Saccharomyces cerevisiae – the most used organism for large-scale ethanol production. In this work, industrial S. cerevisiae strains, presenting robust traits such as thermotolerance and improved resistance to inhibitors, were evaluated as hosts for the cell-surface display of hemicellulolytic enzymes and optimized xylose assimilation, aiming at the development of whole-cell biocatalysts for consolidated bioprocessing of corn cob-derived hemicellulose. These modifications allowed the direct production of ethanol from non-detoxified hemicellulosic liquor obtained by hydrothermal pretreatment of corn cob, reaching an ethanol titer of 11.1 g/L corresponding to a yield of 0.328 gram per gram of potential xylose and glucose, without the need for external hydrolytic catalysts. Also, consolidated bioprocessing of pretreated corn cob was found to be more efficient for hemicellulosic ethanol production than simultaneous saccharification and fermentation with addition of commercial hemicellulases. These results show the potential of industrial S. cerevisiae strains for the design of whole-cell biocatalysts and paves the way for the development of more efficient consolidated bioprocesses for lignocellulosic biomass valorization, further decreasing environmental and economic costs.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.View Full Text

bioengineering↗

bioRxiv2020

Systematic comparison and automated validation of detailed models of hippocampal neurons

Anatomically and biophysically detailed data-driven neuronal models have become widely used tools for understanding and predicting the behavior and function of neurons. Due to the increasing availability of experimental data from anatomical and electrophysiological measurements as well as the growing number of computational and software tools that enable accurate neuronal modeling, there are now a large number of different models of many cell types available in the literature. These models were usually built to capture a few important or interesting properties of the given neuron type, and it is often unknown how they would behave outside their original context. In addition, there is currently no simple way of quantitatively comparing different models regarding how closely they match specific experimental observations. This limits the evaluation, re-use and further development of the existing models. Further, the development of new models could also be significantly facilitated by the ability to rapidly test the behavior of model candidates against the relevant collection of experimental data. We address these problems for the representative case of the CA1 pyramidal cell of the rat hippocampus by developing an open-source Python test suite, which makes it possible to automatically and systematically test multiple properties of models by making quantitative comparisons between the models and electrophysiological data. The tests cover various aspects of somatic behavior, and signal propagation and integration in apical dendrites. To demonstrate the utility of our approach, we applied our tests to compare the behavior of several different hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cell models from the ModelDB database against electrophysiological data available in the literature, and concluded that each of these models provides a good match to experimental results in some domains but not in others. We also show how we employed the test suite to aid the development of models within the European Human Brain Project (HBP), and describe the integration of the tests into the validation framework developed in the HBP, with the aim of facilitating more reproducible and transparent model building in the neuroscience community. Author summary Anatomically and biophysically detailed neuronal models are useful tools in neuroscience because they allow the prediction of the behavior and the function of the studied cell type under circumstances that are hard to investigate experimentally. However, most detailed biophysical models have been built to capture a few selected properties of the real neuron, and it is often unknown how they would behave under different circumstances, or whether they can be used to successfully answer different scientific questions. To help the modeling community develop better neural models, and make the process of model building more reproducible and transparent, we developed a test suite that enables the comparison of the behavior of models of neurons in the rat hippocampus and their evaluation against experimental data. Applying our tests to several models available in the literature, we show that each model is able to capture some of the important properties of the real neuron but fails to match experimental data in other domains. We also use the test suite in the model development workflow of the European Human Brain Project to aid the construction of better models of hippocampal neurons and networks.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2019

Data-driven integration of hippocampal CA1 synapse physiology in silico

The anatomy and physiology of synaptic connections in rodent hippocampal CA1 have been exhaustively characterized in recent decades. Yet, the resulting knowledge remains disparate and difficult to reconcile. Here, we present a data-driven approach to integrate the current state-of-the-art knowledge on the synaptic anatomy and physiology of rodent hippocampal CA1, including axo-dendritic innervation patterns, number of synapses per connection, quantal conductances, neurotransmitter release probability, and short-term plasticity into a single coherent resource. First, we undertook an extensive literature review of paired-recordings of hippocampal neurons and compiled experimental data on their synaptic anatomy and physiology. The data collected in this manner is sparse and inhomogeneous due to the diversity of experimental techniques used by different labs, which necessitates the need for an integrative framework to unify these data. To this end, we extended a previously developed workflow for the neocortex to constrain a unifying in silico reconstruction of the synaptic physiology of CA1 connections. Our work identifies gaps in the existing knowledge and provides a complementary resource towards a more complete quantification of synaptic anatomy and physiology in the rodent hippocampal CA1 region.

neuroscience↗