Presented my poster “AAV-based Strategy for 2P Imaging in the Avian Retina” at #ERM2025 in Pécs 🇭🇺. I am grateful for inspiring discussions on retinal circuitry, photoreceptors, regeneration & artificial vision, and for connecting with colleagues in #RetinaResearch & #Neuroscience.

✨🔬 #FluorescenceFriday Confocal stack of chicken retina 🐥 — from inner nerve fibers up to photoreceptors. Layer upon layer of mosaics, each cell type in its place. Birds have remarkable visual systems, and under the microscope, they look absolutely stunning in detail.

How do birds see the world — and how can we study it at the cellular level? 🐦 Six months ago, our paper came out in Frontiers in Physiology with a new tool to answer exactly that. Here’s a little thread...🧵

Read up this brilliant paper by @gkafetzis.bsky.social on how retina evolution is so conserved.. or is it? 🤓

#FluorescenceFriday #Seahorse retina stained with #GNB3 (green) + #DAPI (cyan). GNB3 labels cone photoreceptors + ON #bipolarcells, tracing pathways from outer to inner retina. Amazing to see conserved visual #circuits in this non-traditional model

#FluorescenceFriday The #seahorse #retina shows off its beauty — stunning stratification in the inner nuclear and inner #plexiform layers, with rod #bipolar terminals forming a brilliant band. #Vertebrate retinas: the same basic plan, yet each species adds its own twist. Its so fascinating.

Seahorse retina in full color! This is a whole-mount of the seahorse #retina, labeled with Calretinin, Calbindin, and PKCα revealing its intricate architecture. Each marker highlights different neural circuits, showing how these remarkable creatures process the world around them. #FluorescenceFriday

#FluorescenceFriday Throwback to my #PhD: EGFP-labeled photoreceptors in a #Europeanrobin retina after AAV2/9 delivery Rods, cones, even a tiny horizontal cell. Lots of trial and error—but we got there. First of its kind in #songbirds. 📄 doi.org/10.3389/fphy... Still proud of it.

#MicroscopyMonday AAV injections in chick retina: #photoreceptors transduced as expected—plus widespread #Müllerglia labeling across layers! Shows AAV’s promise for multi-cell targeting in vision repair. 📄 doi.org/10.3389/fphy... #AAV #Retina #GeneTherapy

✨ #FluorescenceFriday update (coming early—conference-bound!)✨ Here’s a look at the stunning stratification of Photoreceptors in the chicken retina, captured using immunostaining and AAV-mediated gene delivery. 🟢 GFP, 🔴 PSD95, 🔵 DAPI It’s gratifying to see the biology light up like this—literally.

Orthogonal slice of a confocal Z-stack from a whole-mounted #avian #retina, highlighting the laminar relationship between the nerve fiber layer ( #NFL ) and underlying #RGCs. Imaged with Leica #SP8, processed in Fiji. #FluorescenceFriday #BirdRetina #Neuroscience #ConfocalImaging

Here is a cool post for #MicroscopyMonday. Here's a 3D visualization from my recent project using #SP8 confocal #microscopy. Red = DAPI nuclear staining Green = Photoreceptor transduction via AAV serotypes with reporter/ #biosensor genes This image shows successful targeting of photoreceptors.

#FluorescenceFriday 🐥:3D projection of #GluSnFR expression in #chick #retina following #AAV transduction. Expression is concentrated in the #photoreceptor layer. 🟢 GluSnFR (glutamate sensor) 🔴 DAPI-stained nuclei #Imaging #AAV #Retina #Biosensor #neuron #vision (doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2025.1549585)

The beautiful single cone #Photoreceptor types in the #retina of #chicken expressing #GFP via my #Intravitreal AAV injections. For more insight, check out my recent publication (www.frontiersin.org/journals/phy...) Great images for #FluorescenceFriday. #birds #AAVs #injections #transduction

Pleased to share an exciting update on our recent publication “AAV-mediated transduction of songbird retina” lnkd.in/eeu_q5aF In two months, it attracted: 1,158 views and 259 downloads. This strong engagement reflects growing interest in #genetictools for #avian models in #vision #neuroscience.

Sharing another beautiful image of a #Gallus gallus ( #chicken ) #retina, stained with various markers, taken by me for #FluorescenceFriday What better way to start a Friday. Retina is a beauty.

Happy to share that my latest research paper titled "AAV-mediated #transduction of #songbird #retina" which was published in the journal "Frontiers in Physiology", in its special issue "Rising Stars in Avian Physiology: 2024", reached a #1000 views in less than 2 months. lnkd.in/e_8yQtKA

One of my recent articles, published in Frontiers in Physiology, has just reached a new impact milestone. It got a 100 downloads in 17 days. Here is the link if you would like to read our study: www.frontiersin.org/article/1549...

Congrats to our researchers around @thebuddhabird93.bsky.social on their latest joint publication: Using a custom-designed injection setup, they identified a #viral #serotype with the capability to successfully induce widespread transduction of the bird retina. doi.org/10.3389/fphy...

I am delighted to present to all my latest research paper titled " #AAV-mediated transduction of #songbird #retina" which has been published in the journal " #Frontiers in #Physiology", in its special issue "Rising Stars in Avian Physiology: 2024". #birds #AAV www.frontiersin.org/journals/phy...

ICARUS BIRDS Where, how, and why do birds die? We are launching the ICARUS BIRDS project to find out! Join us in tracking common birds across Europe to uncover the factors behind their decline. Learn more on our website: www.ab.mpg.de/icarus

Another beauty that I came across during my #2-photon experiments is a Polyaxonal amacrine cell (PAC), a type of #interneuron in the #retina with multiple axon-like processes, said to play a crucial role in visual signal processing and modulation, particularly in the #IPL.

We are happy to introduce our lab members - today: Annika @annikapeter.bsky.social! She studies songbird navigation skills for her PhD & is fascinated by all kinds of birds & enjoys observing their behaviour, both at work & in her free time. Wheatears have a special place in her heart ♥️

2 beautiful cells expressing #GCaMP in #chicken retina via AAV-mediated retinal #transduction. The dendritic fields of these cells are vast, beautiful and ordered, depicting how truly intricate #retina connectivity is. #Avian retina is remarkable. My choice for today's #FluorescenceFriday image.

I have an open position for a postdoc to study neurodevelopmental disorders in the retina using two-photon imaging and electrophysiology!

First attempt at 3D re-constructing the #Horizontalcell from my transduced #chick #retina. Cells can be very dramatic. All you need is a GIF and some Pavarotti notes 🎵 Sample by @neurofishh.bsky.social Great time for some #FluorescenceFriday.

An evening with the #Starlings, with them #murmuring and spending their last few days of wintering in #Brighton. What a mesmerizing sight. #birds #avian

The beautiful #Horizontalcell types in the #retina of #chicken The distinction in the dendrites is amazingly clear, with each dendritic branch contacting a certain #photoreceptor type. #Avian retinal #neurons are truly mesmerizing. Great images for #FluorescenceFriday. #birds #AAVs #injections

A step towards a standardized nomenclature of photoreceptor rods and cone across vertebrates. Do read the pre print for more. www.preprints.org/manuscript/2...

The most beautiful neurons in the brain (fact), and also my villain origin story - #FluorescenceFriday 🧡 biocytin patched and filled Purkinje cell 💚 parvalbumin 💜 AnkG for axon initial segments

This is magnificent

A group of scientists who are experts at spotting fraudulent research outline five essential steps to combat industrialized scientific misconduct https://go.nature.com/4h78aSw

When your #avianretina markers meant for staining, #ONbipolarcells accidentally revealed the #indian flag 🇮🇳. Happy 76th #RepublicDay to all fellow Indians. #immunohistochemistry #UniversityofSussex #Fluorescencefriday

The beauty of viral transfection in #avianretina 🐔 Here is a transfected #amacrinecell and some #photoreceptors in a cross-section of a #chick #retina. Great image for #FluorescenceFriday Sample from @neurofishh.bsky.social Green: Viral transfected retina; Red: DAPI for stratification

Are you PhD student or Postdoc working in the field of Neuroethology? Then apply as a speaker for the Webinar Series 'The Future Of Neuroethology'

Electric fence or radial glia? These cells🟡 are present only during 🧠development in the neocortex and guide immature neurons 🟣to their final position! Microglia/macrophages in 🔵. It was supposed to be a #FluorescenceFriday, now a #SynapticSunday, maybe #MicroscopyMonday, depending where you are! 🤓

Bit gloomy on Christmas morning in Bartley Green Birmingham. However, this Robin brightened things up a bit. 100-400mm + 2X at 5000 ISO just about got a useable shot! #birds #ukbirding #photography #ukwildlife #uknature

Good morning! I hope you have been able to enjoy the festive season! This Kingfisher perched near to where I was sitting last week. It only stayed for a fleeting moment then flew upstream, not to be seen again! #birds #photography #wildlife 💙🧡💙

Was welcomed into #Christmas day by my dear friend, the #Europeanrobin. What a great morning. Merry Christmas to all. #Birds are beautiful. #MerlinBirdID @birdsoftheworld.bsky.social

I have worked with these magnificent tiny beasts for 8 years. They are truly graceful beings, calm but robust. European robins (Erithacus rubecula) are small insectivorous passerine birds that belongs to the subfamily of the Old World flycatchers. Truly beautiful. 🐦 #NationalRobinDay #robin #birds

This is beautiful

Thanks for the visit @tayoshimatsu.bsky.social. It was great to enter the world of "In-situ's" through you. Cheers to the great times. #in-situ #immuno #birds

Thanks for hosting me @neurofishh.bsky.social It's been a fun week coming back to my postdoc lab, catching up with familiar faces, and meeting new members. Inspiring to see exciting projects happening @sussexneuro.bsky.social

Developing eyes bryanwjones.com/2020/01/deve... #SciArt #retina

The beauty of #avianretina is ever expanding. These magnificently colored dots called #oildroplets are located in the #photoreceptor #cones and intercept and filter the incoming #light. They're found in #diurnal #reptiles and #birds and some other taxes, forming curious patterns. 🐔 #SciArt #chick

youtu.be/3A7OXGf8nRM?... Incredible women of India. Meet the Army of Women Saving India’s Rarest Stork

I'm saying goodbye to the weekend with this beautiful European robin that has just fledged and watched me curiously at what I was doing. Have a good rest and relaxation.🍷🖖 #Rotkehlchen #eropeanrobin 📷 🌿 🪶 🐦 #Nikon #Fotografie #naturephotography #photography #birds #wildlife

Worked with these beauties for 7 years of my life. They might look fragile but arw some tough bastards. 😁

A beautiful #Kingfisher that I caught last year during a birding schedule in my lab. These guys are called #Eisvogel, which literally translates to #ice-bird in german These mesmerizing birds #migrate 3000km every year to winter in the South of Europe Complex yet beautiful #birds #ornithology #avian