Mishel Sosenko

We tested how prenatal THC exposure affects offspring from stress-resilient Dominant and stress-vulnerable Submissive mice. We evaluated behavior, body weight, and brain gene expression. We found that THC effects were not the same in both phenotypes: Dominant offspring showed more anxiety-like behavior, while Submissive offspring showed improved sociability and reduced anxiety-like behavior. These findings suggest that inherited stress-coping traits can shape how prenatal THC exposure affects offspring development.
We tested whether sodium propionate could improve maternal health and offspring outcomes in stress-vulnerable Submissive mice. Treated mothers showed better maternal care and improved gut- and inflammation-related markers. Their offspring showed improved behavior, gut-related gene expression, and metabolic outcomes. These findings suggest that targeting the maternal gut–brain axis may help shape healthier offspring development.
Our researchers developed a new lab model that mimics a patient’s stomach cancer more accurately by combining tumor cells with surrounding support cells. This approach better reflects how tumors behave in the body and may help predict which treatments will work for each individual patient.
Our researchers found that social status in mice (dominant vs. submissive) is linked to differences in brain activity. These differences affect how brain regions communicate and may influence memory, learning, and the ability to recognize new things. Stress sensitivity also plays an important role.
We investigated the connection between gut microbiota, social behavior, and metabolic health. We evaluated Dominant and Submissive mice and found clear differences in gut bacteria, adipose tissue, inflammation, and behavior. Microbiota transfer showed that gut bacteria can influence social and metabolic traits, supporting the important role of the gut–brain axis in behavior.
Gut microbiome composition influences brain function and behavior via neural, endocrine, and immune pathways. Using dominance and submissiveness mouse models, we show microbiome differences drive depressive-like behavior, supporting targeted microbiome modulation as a potential therapeutic strategy for behavioral disorders.
This study investigates how stress and personality traits influence vulnerability to drug addiction. Using a mouse model of dominance and submissiveness, we identify genomic and hormonal signatures underlying differential responses to drugs, aiming to develop personalized prognostic tools for addiction risk.
This study explores the biological mechanisms underlying depression and anxiety through animal models and human research. By comparing stress-resilient and vulnerable mouse strains, we identify biomarkers and assess their relevance to human psychiatric disorders, including MDD and bipolar disorder.
Exploring how stress, depression, and personality traits contribute to age-related cognitive decline, this research uses stress-resilient and vulnerable mouse models to identify underlying molecular mechanisms and genes, aiming to support early diagnosis and prevention of cognitive impairment in humans.
This research investigates molecular and functional mechanisms underlying learning, memory formation, and cognitive decline. Focusing on synaptic plasticity, signaling networks, and aging-related impairments, the study aims to identify key molecular regulators involved in memory deterioration, neurodegeneration, and depressive-like behavior.