FungiTasty

This proposal aims to elucidate how Drosophila melanogaster distinguishes between beneficial and harmful fungi through gustatory perception and neuronal processing. The primary objectives are: (1) to characterize behavioral responses of larvae and adults to diverse fungal species with varying ecological significance; (2) to identify how fungal physiological states (fresh, sporulating, decaying) modulate fly attraction or avoidance through changes in chemical composition; (3) to map the gustatory neurons underlying these adaptive behaviors. We will employ a multidisciplinary approach combining behavioral assays, chemical ecology, and neurogenetics. Behavioral experiments will measure larval and adult responses to diverse fungal species across different physiological states. Neurogenetic manipulations will identify specific gustatory neuron populations (sweetsensitive vs. bitter-sensitive) involved in processing fungal cues. This research directly addresses HARMI's mission to understand host-microbe interactions at molecular, cellular, and organismal levels. Fungi represent ecologically dominant microbes in Drosophila habitats, making this system ideal for studying how animals navigate complex microbial environments. The dual role of fungi—as nutrients and pathogens—provides a tractable model for investigating the sensory and neural mechanisms underlying adaptive decision-making in host-microbe contexts. Findings will advance fundamental knowledge of chemosensory processing, innate behavioral responses, and ecological adaptation. Moreover, understanding how Drosophila detects and evaluates microbial cues has broader implications for agriculture (biological pest control using fungal metabolites) and public health (insights into pathogen avoidance behaviors). By bridging ecology, neuroscience, and chemical biology, this work exemplifies HARMI's integrative approach to host-microbe research.