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Dr. Andres Vidal-Gadea

Associate Professor of Molecular Neuroethology
School of Biological Sciences
Office
SLB Science Laboratory Building
Office Hours
M-W-F 10:00-11:00 (or by appointment)
  • About
  • Education
  • Awards & Honors
  • Research

Biography

Dr. Vidal-Gadea was born in Uruguay. He obtained his BS from the University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, and PhD in Biology from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA. After completing his postdoctoral training in Southampton (UK) and Austin (TX) he joined the School of Biological Sciences at ISU on January of 2015.

Current Courses

BSC 283.001 Animal Physiology

BSC 299.010 Independent Honor Study

BSC 499.016 Independent Research For The Master's Thesis

BSC 290.007 Research In Biological Sciences

BSC 290.010 Research In Biological Sciences

BSC 290.011 Research In Biological Sciences

BSC 290.012 Research In Biological Sciences

BSC 290.013 Research In Biological Sciences

BSC 290.014 Research In Biological Sciences

BSC 290.015 Research In Biological Sciences

BSC 290.022 Research In Biological Sciences

BSC 290.027 Research In Biological Sciences

BSC 290.034 Research In Biological Sciences

BSC 290.039 Research In Biological Sciences

BSC 290.040 Research In Biological Sciences

BSC 290.041 Research In Biological Sciences

BSC 290.042 Research In Biological Sciences

BSC 290.043 Research In Biological Sciences

BSC 290.045 Research In Biological Sciences

BSC 290.050 Research In Biological Sciences

BSC 290.053 Research In Biological Sciences

BSC 290.054 Research In Biological Sciences

BSC 599.016 Research In The Biological Sciences

BSC 303.001 Senior Thesis

BSC 283.001 Animal Physiology

BSC 299.001 Independent Honor Study

BSC 299.005 Independent Honor Study

BSC 299.006 Independent Honor Study

BSC 299.008 Independent Honor Study

BSC 299.011 Independent Honor Study

BSC 299.029 Independent Honor Study

BSC 499.016 Independent Research For The Master's Thesis

BSC 290.005 Research In Biological Sciences

BSC 290.007 Research In Biological Sciences

BSC 290.012 Research In Biological Sciences

BSC 290.015 Research In Biological Sciences

BSC 290.027 Research In Biological Sciences

BSC 290.034 Research In Biological Sciences

BSC 290.037 Research In Biological Sciences

BSC 290.039 Research In Biological Sciences

BSC 290.040 Research In Biological Sciences

BSC 290.042 Research In Biological Sciences

BSC 290.045 Research In Biological Sciences

BSC 290.050 Research In Biological Sciences

BSC 290.053 Research In Biological Sciences

BSC 290.054 Research In Biological Sciences

BSC 290.058 Research In Biological Sciences

BSC 290.059 Research In Biological Sciences

BSC 290.060 Research In Biological Sciences

BSC 599.016 Research In The Biological Sciences

BSC 303.001 Senior Thesis

Teaching Interests & Areas

1) Neuroscience
2) Molecular techniques
3) Neuroethology
4) Behavioral genetics

Research Interests & Areas

My lab uses the nematode C. elegans and the marbled crayfish to study the molecular and neural underpinnings of behavior. We harness these insights to the study of neural and muscular pathologies. Our approach is integrative and combines forward and reverse genetics, immunohistochemistry, calcium imaging, optogenetics, and in-depth behavioral analysis. We currently focus on three topics: magnetic field detection and orientation, the etiology and prevention of degeneration during Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and the adaptation of molecular techniques to the study of neuroscience in crustaceans.

Magnetic field detection and orientation:
Many organisms detect and use the magnetic field of the earth to navigate their environment. While much progress has been made in this exciting field, no magneto transduction mechanism has been identified in any animal. After demonstrating that nematodes can detect and orient to magnetic fields, our lab identified the first set of neurons capable of detecting this invisible force field. Our lab presently works to: 1) characterize the magnetic orientation behavior of C. elegans; 2) identify the molecular transduction mechanism allowing worms to detect magnetic fields; 3) determine how the magnetosensory neurons encode magnetic information; 4) evaluate the effects of non-terrestrial magnetic fields on animal viability.

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy:
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a lethal disease affecting 1 in 3500 males caused by deleterious mutations in DYS1, a giant gene encoding the dystrophin protein. Progress in this field is hindered by lack of animal models faithfully recreating the disease beyond the genetic lesion (e.g. muscular degeneration, loss of ambulation). We devised the first assay able to fully recapitulate the progression of the disease in animals. We then conducted a genetic screen and isolated mutants able to overcome the effects of the disease. My students now work to identify these mutations hoping to bring relief to those suffering with this disease. We are also using this and similar assays to evaluate different types of exercise that might prove protective for dystrophic musculature.

Adaptation of molecular techniques to the study of neuroscience in crustaceans:
For well over a century, crustaceans have proven immensely useful in neuroscience research. Key has been their unmatched ability to withstand a multitude of synchronous neuronal investigations. In recent years advances in molecular and genetic techniques allowed many model organisms to jump to the forefront of research, however crustaceans have remained somewhat insulated from this revolution due in part to their complex life histories. Our lab is presently collaborating with the Stein lab at ISU, and the Lyco lab in Germany to bring crustaceans into the age of modern genetics. We are using the marbled crayfish, a parthenogenetic species that easily breeds in the lab to adapt current molecular and genetic techniques to the study of neuroscience and behavior in crustaceans.

Post-Doc Molecular Neuroethology

The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, Texas, USA

Post-Doc Neurophysiology

Southampton University
Southampton, England

Ph D Biology

Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA

BS Biology

University of Victoria
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Dip International Baccalaureate

Lester B. Pearson College
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Outstanding College Researcher

Illinois State University
2024

Million Dollar Club

Illinois State University
2021

2020 Researchers to Know

Illinois Science and technology Coalition
2020

2019 Research Initiative Award

Illinois State University
2019

2018 Faculty Mentor Award

Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation
2018

2018 McLean County STEM Professional Award

McLean County Chamber of Commerce
2018

Book, Chapter

Hughes KJ, Vidal-Gadea AG. Methods for Modulating and Measuring Neuromuscular Exertion in C. elegans. InC. elegans 2022 (pp. 339-356). Humana, New York, NY.

Creative Works/Broadcast Media

Vidal-Gadea, A. Vidal Gadea Lab Youtube Channel

Encyclopedia

Gährs C, Vidal-Gadea AG. 2018. “Locomotion.” in Encyclopedia of Animal Cognition and Behavior, Eds. Vonk J, Shackelford T. Springer, ISBN: 978-3-319-55066-4.

Journal Article


Z Mobille, R Follmann, AVidal-Gadea, E Rosa, Quantitative description of neuronal calcium dynamics in C. elegans’ thermoreception, Biosystems, Vol 223, (2023) 104814, ISSN 0303-2647, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biosystems.2022.104814.
Fernández EM, Cutraro YB, Adams J, Monteleone MC, Hughes K, Frasch AC, Vidal-Gadea AG, Brocco MA. 2021. In Caenorhabditis elegans, alterations in the neuronal membrane glycoprotein 1 (nmgp-1) affect the morphology of ASJ neurons and behaviors coordinated by the nervous system. J. Neurochemistry
Hughes K, Shah A, Bai X, Adams J, Bauer R, Jackson J, Bainbridge C, Harris E, Ficca A, Freebairn P, Mohammed S, Fernandes EM, Brocco M, Stein W, Golden A, Vidal-Gadea AG. Distinct mechanoreceptor pezo-1 isoforms modulate food intake in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.
Leonard, N; Vidal-Gadea, AG (2021). Affordable Caenorhabditis elegans tracking system for classroom use. microPublication Biology. 10.17912/micropub.biology.000377.
Bainbridge, C., Clites, B. L., Caldart, C. S., Palacios, B., Rollins, K., Golombek, D. A., ... & Vidal-Gadea, A. G. (2019). Factors that influence magnetic orientation in Caenorhabditis elegans. Journal of Comparative Physiology A, 1-10.

Other

Vidal-Gadea AG, Caldart C, Bainbridge C, Clites B, Palacios B, Bakhtiari L, Gordon V, Golombek D, Pierce J. 2018. Temporal and spatial factors that influence magnetotaxis in C. elegans . bioRxiv. https://doi.org/10.1101/252700

Software

Bainbridge C, Stein W, Vidal-Gadea AG​. 2017. Animal heading calculator. GitHub. 10.5281/zenodo.1002304

Presentations

Akinosho A, Awe T, Fazyl A, Vidal-Gadea AG. 2024. The nematode C. elegans detects magnetic fields using an iron-dependent transduction mechanism. Graduate School Symposium. Illinois State University, Normal, IL.
Akinosho A, Vidal-Gadea AG. 2023. Investigation of the mechanisms of magnetic transduction by C. elegans. Phi Sigma Symposium. Illinois State University, Normal, IL.
Akinosho A, Vidal-Gadea AG. 2024. Ironing out the details: Exploring the Role of Iron in Biological Systems. Phi Sigma Symposium, Illinois State University, Normal, IL.
Awe T, Akinosho A, Adams J, Niha S, Stein W, Vidal-Gadea AG. 2024. The potential role of C. elegans' AMsh glia in coordination of escape responses to aversive stimuli. Graduate School Symposium. Illinois State University, Normal, IL.
Awe T, Vidal-Gadea AG. 2024. The AMsh glia of C. elegans modulates the duration of nose touch-induced escape responses. NeuroPhysiology Seminar, Illinois State University, Normal, IL.
Fazyl A, Komandur A**, Vidal-Gadea AG. 2024. The mechanoreceptor PEZO-1 is necessary for adapting muscle function and ensuring plasticity in the striated muscles of C. elegans. Phi Sigma Symposium. Illinois State University, Normal, IL.
Fazyl A, Komandur A**, Vidal-Gadea AG. 2024. The mechanoreceptor PEZO-1 is required for normal muscle function and plasticity in the striated musculature of the nematode C. elegans. Graduate School Symposium. Illinois State University, Normal, IL.
Fazyl A, Vidal-Gadea AG. 2024. Mechanical Force Detection and Resilience in the Musculature of Caenorhabditis elegans​. Departmental Seminar, Illinois State University, Normal, IL.
Fazyl A, Vidal-Gadea AG. 2024. The mechanoreceptor PEZO-1 modulates muscle function in striated musculature of C. elegans. NeuroPhysiology Seminar, Illinois State University, Normal, IL.
Gomez L, Mobile Z, Vidal-Gadea AG, Follmann R, Rosa E. 2024. Model equations for C. elegans's thermotaxis. Graduate School Symposium. Illinois State University, Normal, IL.

Grants & Contracts

Genetic repair of muscular degeneration associated with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. NIH_NIAMS. Federal. (2022)
Effects of Mars’s magnetic and gravitational field on terrestrial organisms. Illinois State University. Illinois State University. (2018)
MRI: Acquisition of a laser scanning confocal microscope within a core facility for research and training at Illinois State University. National Science Foundation. Federal. (2018)
Neuronal and molecular basis for magnetic transduction in the nematode C. elegans. NSF_MCB. Federal. (2018)
Genetic repair of muscular degeneration associated with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. NIH_R15. Federal. (2016)