Thesis title: Mapping the Diversity and Organization of Support and Glial Cells in the Drosophila Antenna

Understanding how sensory information is processed requires a comprehensive view not only of neurons but also of the non-neuronal cells that sustain and modulate their function. In the Drosophila olfactory system, each olfactory receptor neuron (ORN) is housed within a specialized sensory organ, the sensillum, together with three support cells – trichogen, thecogen, and tormogen cells – and associated glia. While their roles in neuronal development, protection, and signaling have been described, their diversity, molecular profiles, and structural organization remain poorly characterized.

The goal of my PhD project is to produce the first integrated map of support and glial cell diversity in the adult Drosophila antenna. I will combine single-cell RNA sequencing and bioinformatic clustering to identify distinct subtypes within known support cell classes, with a focus on defining specific molecular markers. I will validate these markers in vivo, enabling precise genetic access to the different cell types. This will allow me to investigate whether particular support cell subtypes are preferentially associated with distinct sensillum types, potentially revealing new principles of ORN-support cell matching.

To complement transcriptomic profiling, I will integrate ultrastructural data and 3D reconstructions of the antennal sensory organs. This structural information will not only refine the classification of support and glial cell subtypes but also illuminate their physical interactions with ORNs and each other, providing insights into the cellular architecture of olfactory sensilla.

Once this molecular and structural mapping is complete, I will use the identified markers to experimentally manipulate support and glial cells and assess their roles in shaping olfactory function. By leveraging comparative transcriptomic data from D. melanogaster, D. simulans, and D. sechellia, I aim to test whether species-specific differences in these non-neuronal cells contribute to the behavioral divergence observed between species. Ultimately, this work seeks to evaluate how the evolution of non-neuronal cells in the Drosophila olfactory system can drive the emergence of species-specific behaviors and, over time, the evolution of new species.