Regeneration of
spinal cord in
Xenopus laevis

Unlike mammals, the Xenopus laevis tadpole has a remarkable regenerative capacity that allows it to regenerate the spinal cord after severe injury. However, as the tadpole metamorphoses into a frog it loses this regenerative capacity. This provides a unique model that has regenerative (tadpole) and non-regenerative (frog) stages, in which we can model spinal cord injury. We study the cellular and molecular mechanisms of spinal cord regeneration, and are interested in identifying the differences between tadpoles and froglets. To address this, we use high-throughput RNA sequencing, cellular transplant, and generation of transgenic animals together with other methods to modify gene expression. This knowledge will be useful in finding new methods to promote spinal cord regeneration in mammalian organisms.

Metamorphosis
of Xenopus
laevis

We are interested in how developmental transitions are regulated and how stem/progenitors cells respond to signals in vivo during these processes. Specifically, we are studying the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the activation and proliferation of neural stem/progenitors cells in the spinal cord during Xenopus laevis metamorphosis. This project includes the study of the effect of thyroid hormone and the role of miRNAs in neural stem/progenitor cells.

Nervous System
Development and
Wnt signaling

The Wnt signaling pathway is involved in relevant physiological events, such as nervous system development, regeneration and stem cell homeostasis. In our laboratory, we are interested in the study of the role of the Wnt pathway in neural tube development and the function of Syndecan-4 and Vangl2 in the regulation of canonical and non-canonical Wnt signaling in Xenopus and mice. We are also studying the regulation of spinal cord regeneration after by the Wnt signaling pathway in Xenopus laevis.