daniel cantu

Analysis of Neural Circuits Underlying Decision Making. We used a novel behavioral paradigm distinctly separating action from sensation in order to probe the neural circuits underlying an active whisking discrimination task with a two alternative forced choice decision.

Using Citizen Science to Probe Questions in RNA Biology. We use a specialized computer simulation contextualized as an online game called EteRNA to help solve the RNA inverse folding problem by obtaining novel RNA sequences designed by players that theoretically match a specific secondary structure. We then rapidly synthesize these sequences and determine the secondary structures experimentally and upload the results to EteRNA so that players can learn from the results to improve their ability to make correctly-folding RNA sequences.

Effects of the Microenvironment on Human Central Nervous System Neural Stem Cells Transplanted to Treat Spinal Cord Injury. We looked at the effects that the microenvironment, including various complement components, neutrophils, and macrophages, have on the differentiation, proliferation, and survival of human central nervous system neural stem cells that have been transplanted to treat spinal cord injury in mice and rats with the goal of manipulating the microenvironment to improve recovery.

Neuroprotective Effects of Lactation Against Kainic Acid-Induced Damage in the Dorsal Hippocampus. We used Kainic acid injected into the hippocampus, a common model for epilepsy that acts as an agonist of glutamate, and demonstrated, through immunohistochemistry and behavioral analysis, a neuroprotective effect found in lactating rats to resist this damage.

Antibiotic Resistance in Environmental Bacterial Isolates. We sampled, classified, and measured the antibiotic resistance of bacteria found in soil, creek water, bottled drinking water, and ice from restaurants in order to see patterns of bacterial resistance to antibiotics in environmental isolates, as opposed to the frequently-studied clinical isolates.

Studying sensory hypersensitivity in the cortex of a model of fragile X syndrome using in-vivo calcium imaging using two-photon microscopy.