Dr Selim Terhzaz

Background ST trained in biochemical characterisation and molecular genetics analysis of Drosophila neuropeptides with Professor Jan Veenstra at the University of Bordeaux where he obtained his PhD in 2003. As a Postdoctoral Research Assistant funded by BBSRC, he has joined Professors Davies and Dow’s group. Research ST’s main research is to investigate the role of calcium pools and calcium signalling in the Malpighian (renal) tubule, in particular how they contribute to Drosophila neuropeptides induced calcium events, using newly developed organellar (ER, Golgi, mitochondria, nucleus, peroxisome) luminescent and fluorescent calcium reporters allowing, for the first time in transgenics animal, real-time calcium measurement in an organotypic context. As a Postdoctoral Research Associate, he is currently investigating in defining novel roles of cytochrome P450 genes, and calcium signalling via mitochondria and peroxisomes, in stress and immune sensing by epithelia, and most recently, to define the role of capa neuropeptide GPCR signalling in desiccation (water) stress.