Overview
The Brain Asymmetry & Neurodevelopmental Disease (BAND) group investigates zebrafish as an animal model to study neurodevelopmental disorders such as Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS) and other syndromes linked to Autism. Focusing on brain asymmetries, we explore how alterations in cerebral lateralization impact sociability and other cognitive functions. Our research aims to uncover the genetic and neurobiological mechanisms underlying these disorders, providing insights into how variations in the hemispheric specialization could influence behavioural outcomes in animal models and patients affected by these disorders.
Research directions
Neurodevelopmental Bases of Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS) and 7qDuplication Syndrome (7qDupl). The BAND group investigates how the alteration of brain asymmetry can contribute to cognitive and social impairments associated with neurodevelopmental disorders like WBS and 7qDupl. Using zebrafish as animal model, we study the effects of single gene mutations linked to these syndromes, focusing on how alterations in hemispheric specialization influence sociability and other cognitive functions (e.g., anxiety and numerical abilities).
WBS is a genetic neurodevelopmental syndrome linked to a deletion of 25 genes on human chromosome 7, of which 8 of these genes are associated with cognitive and behavioural impairments. Patients with WBS exhibit cognitive and behavioural impairments such as mild/moderate mental retardation, dyscalculia, altered brain laterality, and hypersociability. Furthermore, this WBS locus can also be duplicated, leading to the 7qDupl syndrome with traits opposite to WBS including a-social, aggressive and autistic-like behaviours.
Our research takes advantage of these "sister syndromes” to shed light on the links between brain asymmetry and cognitive function. By manipulating WBS-related genes in zebrafish, we aim to create models that replicate the characteristics of both syndromes. This allows us to explore the nuances of brain laterality and its effects on behavior and cognitive changes.
Members
Andrea Messina, Principal Investigator
Alessandra Gobbo, PhD student (co-supervised)
Sono sempre interessato ad accogliere giovani scienziati altamente motivati sia che essi siano studenti di laurea triennale che postdoc specializzati. Pertanto, se sei interessato, contatta direttamente il PI Andrea Messina.
Membri precedenti
Gabriele Norrito, former Master student
Publications
- Luu P., Nadtochiy A., Zanon M., Moreno N., Messina A., Miletto Petrazzini M.E., Torres Perez J.V., Keomanee-Dizon K., Jones M., Brennan C.H., Vallortigara G., Fraser S.E., Truong T.V. (2024). Neural Basis of Number Sense in Larval Zebrafish. BiorXiv DOI:10.1101/2024.08.30.610552
- Lorenzi E., Perrino M., Messina A., Zanon M., Vallortigara G. (2024). Innate responses to numerousness reveal neural activation in different brain regions in newly-hatched visually naïve chicks. Helyion DOI:10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e34162
- Elisabeth Adam, Mirko Zanon, Messina A., Vallortigara G (2024). Looks like home: Numerosity, but not spatial frequency guides preference in zebrafish larvae (Danio rerio). Animal Cognition DOI:10.1007/s10071-024-01888-0
- Messina A., Sovrano A.V., Baratti G., Musa A., Gobbo A., Adiletta E., Sgadò P. (2024). Valproic acid exposure alters social visual lateralization and asymmetric gene expression in zebrafish larvae. Sci Reports DOI:10.1038/s41598-024-54356-7
- Castellini M., Spagnolli G., Poggi L., Biasini E., Casarosa S.*, Messina A.* (2023). Identification of the zebrafish homologues of IMPG2, a retinal proteoglycan. Cell Tissue Res. DOI:10.1007/s00441-023-03808-z. (*Equal contribution)
- Vallortigara G.*, Lorenzi E.*, Messina A.*, Perrino M.* (2022). Magnitudes for Nervous Systems: Theoretical Issues and Experimental Evidence. Curr Dir Psychol Sci. DOI: 10.1177/09637214221102146. (*Equal contribution)
- Messina A., Potrich D., Perrino M., Sheardown E., Miletto-Petrazzini M.E., Luu P., Nadtochiy A., Truong T.V., Sovrano V.A., Fraser S.E., Brennan C.H., Vallortigara G. (2022). Quantity as a Fish Views It: Behavior and Neurobiology. Front NeuroAnat, 16:943504. DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2022.943504.
- Messina A.*, Potrich D., Schiona I., Sovrano V.A., Fraser S.E., Brennan C.H., Vallortigara G.* (2022). Neurons in the Dorso-Central Division of Zebrafish Pallium Respond to Change in Visual Numerosity. Cerebral Cortex. DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhab218. (*co-corresponding authors).
- Messina A.*, Potrich D., Schiona I., Sovrano V.A., Vallortigara G.* (2021). The Sense of Number in Fish, with Particular Reference to Its Neurobiological Bases. Animals. DOI: 10.3390/ani11113072 (*co-corresponding authors).
- Messina A.*, Boiti A., Sovrano A.V., Sgadò P*. (2020). Micromolar Valproic Acid Doses Preserve Survival and Induce Molecular Alterations in Neurodevelopmental Genes in Two Strains of Zebrafish Larvae. Biomolecules. DOI: 10.3390/biom10101364 (*co-corresponding authors).
- Messina A.*, Boiti A., Vallortigara G. (2020). Asymmetric distribution of pallial‐expressed genes in zebrafish (Danio rerio). Eur J Neurosci. DOI: 10.1111/ejn.14914. (*corresponding authors).
- Messina A.*, Potrich D., Schiona I., Sovrano V.A., Fraser S.E., Brennan C.H., Vallortigara G. (2020). Response to Change in Numerosity of Visual Stimuli in Zebrafish: A Behavioural and Molecular Approach. Sci Reports. DOI:10.1038/s41598-020-62608-5. (*corresponding authors).
- Miletto Petrazzini M.E.*, Sovrano V.A., Vallortigara G., Messina A.* (2020). Brain and Behavioral Asymmetry: A Lesson from Fish. Front NeuroAnat. DOI:10.3389/fnana2020.00011. (*co-corresponding authors).
For a complete list see Dr Andrea Messina's personal webpage.
Grants
Welcome grant for new PIs, University of Trento, IT
Collaborazioni in corso
Giorgio Vallortigara, CIMeC, University of Trento, IT
Valeria Anna Sovrano, CIMeC, University of Trento, IT
Paola Sgadò, CIMeC, University of Trento, IT
Elisa Frasnelli, CIMeC, University of Trento, IT
Simona Casarosa, CIBIO, University of Trento, IT
Matthias Carl, CIBIO, University of Trento, IT
Maria Elena Miletto Petrazzini, University of Padova, IT
Caroline H. Brennan, Queen Mary University of London, UK
Scott E. Fraser, University of Southern California, USA
Thai Viet Truong, University of Southern California, USA
Jose Vincente Torres-Perez, Universitat de Valencia, ES