@article{BeckerLatussekHeinkeetal.1993,
  author    = {Becker, Charles, R. and Latussek, V. and Heinke, H. and Regnet, M. M. and Goschenhofer, F. and Einfeldt, S. and He, L. and Bangert, E. and Kraus, M. M. and Landwehr, G.},
  title     = {Molecular beam epitaxial growth and characterization of (001) Hg\(_{1-x}\) Cd\(_x\) Te-HgTe superlattices},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-50959},
  year      = {1993},
  abstract  = {The molecular beam epitaxially growth of (001) Hg\(_{1-x}\) Cd\(_z\) Te-HgTe superlattices has been systematically investigated. The well width as well as the period were determined directly by X-ray diffraction. This was accomphshed for the well width by exploiting the high reflectivity from HgTe and the low reflectivity from CdTe for the (002) Bragg reflection. Knowing the well and barrier thicknesses we have been able to set an upper limit on the aver~ge composition of the barriers, Xl, by annealing the superlattice and then measuring the composition of the. resultmg alloy. Xb was shown to decrease exponentially with decreasing barrier width. Xb is appreciably smaller m. narrow barriers due to the increased significance of interdiffusion in the Hg\(_{1-x}\)Cd\(_x\) Te/HgTe interface in narrow barriers. The experimentally determined optical absorption coefficient for these superlattices is compared WIth theoretical calculations. The absorption coefficient was determined from transmission and reflection spectra at 300, 77 and 5 K. Using the thickness and composition of the barriers and wells, and an interface width due to interdiffusion, the complex refractive index is calculated and compared with the experimental absorption coefficient. The envelope function method based on an 8 x 8 second order k . p band model was used to calculate the superlattice states. These results when inserted into Kubo's formula, yield the dynamic conductivity for interband transitions. The experimental and theoretical values for the absorption coefficient using no adjustable parameters are in good agreement for most of the investigated superlattices. Furthermore the agreement for the higher energetic interband transitions is much worse if values for the barrier composition, which are appreciably different than the experimentally determined values, are used. The infrared photoluminescence was investigated at temperatures from 4.2 to 300 K. Pronounced photoluminescence was observed for all superlattices in this temperature range.},
  subject      = {Physik},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{KrausRegnetBeckeretal.1992,
  author    = {Kraus, M. M. and Regnet, M. M. and Becker, Charles R. and Bicknell-Tassius, R. N. and Landwehr, G.},
  title     = {Comparison of band structure calculations and photoluminescence experiments on HgTe/CdTe superlattices grown by molecular beam epitaxy},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-37878},
  year      = {1992},
  abstract  = {We have grown HgTe/CdTe superlattices by molecular beam epitaxy; barrier thicknesses were in the range from 15 to 91 {\AA} and the well thickness was maintained at a constant value of 30 {\AA}. The infrared photoluminescence was investigated by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in the temperature range from 4.2 to 300 K. All superlattices showed pronounced photoluminescence at temperatures up to 300 K. To gain more detailed insight into the band structure of the HgTe/CdTe superlattices, band structure calculations were performed. The concept of the envelope function approximation was followed. Employing the transfer matrix method, the calculations were completed taking into account an eight band k·p model. An important parameter in these calculations is the natural valence band offset (VBO) between the well and barrier materials. As a general trend, the value for the direct gap decreases with increasing VBO. The experimentally determined energies of the band gap are in reasonable agreement with the values obtained by the theoretical calculations. A comparison between theory and experiment shows that the observed transition energies are closer to calculations employing a large offset (350 meV) as opposed to a small VBO (40 meV).},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{BeckerHeRegnetetal.1993,
  author    = {Becker, Charles R. and He, L. and Regnet, M. M. and Kraus, M.M. and Wu, Y. S. and Landwehr, G. and Zhang, X. F. and Zhang, H.},
  title     = {The growth and structure of short period (001) Hg\(_{1-x}\)Cd\(_x\)Te-HgTe superlattices},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-37858},
  year      = {1993},
  abstract  = {Molecular beam epitaxially grown short period (001) Hg\(_{1_x}\)Cd\(_x\)Te-HgTe superlattices have been systematically investigated. Several narrow well widths were chosen, e.g., 30, 35 and 40 {\AA}, and the barrier widths were varied between 24 and 90 {\AA} for a particular well width. Both the well width and the total period were determined directly by means of x-ray diffraction. The well width was determined by exploiting the high reflectivity from HgTe and the low reflectivity from CdTe for the (002) Bragg reflection. Knowing the well and barrier widths we have been able to set an upper limit on the average Cd concentration of the barriers, \(\overline x_b\), by annealing several superlattices and then measuring the composition of the resulting alloy. \(\overline x_b\) was shown to decrease exponentially with decreasing barrier width. The structure of a very short period superlattice, i.e., 31.4 {\AA}, was also investigated by transmission electron microscopy, corroborating the x-ray diffraction results.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{SteinhardtWiercinskaPhametal.2020,
  author    = {Steinhardt, M. J. and Wiercinska, E. and Pham, M. and Grigoleit, G. U. and Mazzoni, A. and Da-Via, M. and Zhou, X. and Meckel, K. and Nickel, K. and Duell, J. and Krummenast, F. C. and Kraus, S. and Hopkinson, C. and Weissbrich, B. and M{\"u}llges, W. and Stoll, G. and Kort{\"u}m, K. M. and Einsele, H. and Bonig, H. and Rasche, L.},
  title     = {Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in a patient post allo-HCT successfully treated with JC virus specific donor lymphocytes},
  series = {Journal of Translational Medicine},
  volume    = {18},
  journal   = {Journal of Translational Medicine},
  doi       = {10.1186/s12967-020-02337-5},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-229307},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {Background Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy is a demyelinating CNS disorder. Reactivation of John Cunningham virus leads to oligodendrocyte infection with lysis and consequent axonal loss due to demyelination. Patients usually present with confusion and seizures. Late diagnosis and lack of adequate therapy options persistently result in permanent impairment of brain functions. Due to profound T cell depletion, impairment of T-cell function and potent immunosuppressive factors, allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation recipients are at high risk for JCV reactivation. To date, PML is almost universally fatal when occurring after allo-HCT. Methods To optimize therapy specificity, we enriched JCV specific T-cells out of the donor T-cell repertoire from the HLA-identical, anti-JCV-antibody positive family stem cell donor by unstimulated peripheral apheresis [1]. For this, we selected T cells responsive to five JCV peptide libraries via the Cytokine Capture System technology. It enables the enrichment of JCV specific T cells via identification of stimulus-induced interferon gamma secretion. Results Despite low frequencies of responsive T cells, we succeeded in generating a product containing 20 000 JCV reactive T cells ready for patient infusion. The adoptive cell transfer was performed without complication. Consequently, the clinical course stabilized and the patient slowly went into remission of PML with JCV negative CSF and containment of PML lesion expansion. Conclusion We report for the first time feasibility of generating T cells with possible anti-JCV activity from a seropositive family donor, a variation of virus specific T-cell therapies suitable for the post allo transplant setting. We also present the unusual case for successful treatment of PML after allo-HCT via virus specific T-cell therapy.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{HerrmannHappMoellmannetal.1993,
  author    = {Herrmann, K. H. and Happ, M. and M{\"o}llmann, K.-P. and Tomm, J. W. and Becker, Charles R. and Kraus, M. M. and Yuan, S. and Landwehr, G.},
  title     = {A new model for the absorption coefficient of narrow gap (Hg,Cd)Te that simultaneously considers band tails and band filling},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-37894},
  year      = {1993},
  abstract  = {A semiempirical model is presented that correlates the broadening of the absorption edge with both transitions below the energy gap and with transitions by the Kane band model. This model correctly fits both the absorption and luminescence spectra of narrow-gap (Hg,Cd)Te samples that have been grown by the traveling heater method as well as by molecular-beam epitaxy. The accuracy of the band-gap determination is enhanced by this model.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{BeckerWuWaagetal.1991,
  author    = {Becker, Charles R. and Wu, Y. S. and Waag, A. and Kraus, M. M. and Landwehr, G.},
  title     = {The orientation independence of the CdTe-HgTe valence band offset as determined by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-30784},
  year      = {1991},
  abstract  = {No abstract available},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{KrausBeckerScholletal.1993,
  author    = {Kraus, M. M. and Becker, Charles R. and Scholl, S. and Wu, Y. S. and Yuan, S. and Landwehr, G.},
  title     = {Infrared photoluminescence on molecular beam epitaxially grown Hg\(_{1-x}\)Cd\(_x\)Te layers},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-38053},
  year      = {1993},
  abstract  = {No abstract available},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{WuBeckerWaagetal.1991,
  author    = {Wu, Y.S. and Becker, Charles R. and Waag, A. and Kraus, M. M. and Bicknell-Tassius, R. N. and Landwehr, G.},
  title     = {Correlation of the Cd-to-Te ratio on CdTe surfaces with the surface structure},
  isbn      = {0163-1829},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-37789},
  year      = {1991},
  abstract  = {We report here that reconstruction on (100), (1lIlA, and (1l1lB CdTe surfaces is either C(2X2), (2X2), and (l X I) or (2X I), (l X I), and (l X I) when they are Cd or Te stabilized, respectively. There is a mixed region between Cd and Te stabilization in which the reflected high-energy electron-diffraction (RHEED) patterns contain characteristics of both Cd- and Te-stabilized surfaces. We have also found that the Cd-to-Te ratio of the x-ray photoelectron intensities of their 3d\(_{3/ 2}\) core levels is about 20\% larger for a Cd-stabilized (1lIlA, (1lIlB, or (100) CdTe surface than for a Te-stabilized one. According to a simple model calculation, which was normalized by means of the photoelectron intensity ratio of a Cd-stabilized (lll)A and aTe-stabilized (1l1lB CdTe surface, the experimental data for CdTe surfaces can be explained by a linear dependence of the photoelectron-intensity ratio on the fraction of Cd in the uppermost monatomic layer. This surface composition can be correlated with the surface structure, i.e., the corresponding RHEED patterns. This correlation can in turn be employed to determine Te and Cd evaporation rates. The Te reevaporation rate is increasingly slower for the Te-stabilized (Ill) A, (l1l)B, and (100) surfaces, while the opposite is true for Cd from Cd-stabilized (Ill) A and (Ill)B surfaces. In addition, Te is much more easily evaporated from all the investigated surfaces than is Cd, if the substrate is kept at normal molecular-beam-epitaxy growth temperatures ranging from 2oo·C to 300 ·C.},
  subject      = {Festk{\"o}rperphysik},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{SchubertKrausKenkliesetal.1992,
  author    = {Schubert, D.W. and Kraus, M.M and Kenklies, R. and Becker, Charles R. and Bicknell-Tassius, R.N.},
  title     = {Composition and wavelength dependence of the refractive index in Cd\(_{1-x}\)Mn\(_x\)Te epitaxial layers},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-37716},
  year      = {1992},
  abstract  = {We have investigated Cd\(_{1-x}\)Mn\(_x\)Te thin films with Mn concentrations of x=0.12, 0.18, 0.30, 0.52, and 0.70. These single crystal layers were grown by molecular beam epitaxy on [001] CdTe substrates. The real part of the refractive index, n, was determined below the band-gap Eo in the range of 0.5-2.5 eV at T=300 K. The parallel reOectivity was measured near the Brewster angle at the YAG laser wavelength of 1.064 J.Lm (hv= 1.165 eV). Combining these results with the optical pathlength results (nd) of reOection measurements in a Fourier spectrometer we have determined n(x,v) over a wide spectral range by utilizing a three parameter fit. The accuracy of these results for n should improve waveguide designs based on this material.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{WurmbSchorscherJusticeetal.2018,
  author    = {Wurmb, T and Schorscher, N and Justice, P and Dietz, S and Schua, R and Jarausch, T and Kinstle, U and Greiner, J and M{\"o}ldner, G and M{\"u}ller, J and Kraus, M and Simon, S and Wagenh{\"a}user, U and Hemm, J and Roewer, N and Helm, M},
  title     = {Structured analysis, evaluation and report of the emergency response to a terrorist attack in Wuerzburg, Germany using a new template of standardised quality indicators},
  series = {Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine},
  volume    = {26},
  journal   = {Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine},
  number    = {87},
  doi       = {10.1186/s13049-018-0555-5},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-177054},
  year      = {2018},
  abstract  = {Background: Until now there has been a reported lack of systematic reports and scientific evaluations of rescue missions during terror attacks. This however is urgently required in order to improve the performance of emergency medical services and to be able to compare different missions with each other. Aim of the presented work was to report the systematic evaluation and the lessons learned from the response to a terror attack that happened in Wuerzburg, Germany in 2016. Methods: A team of 14 experts developed a template of quality indicators and operational characteristics, which allow for the description, assessment and comparison of civil emergency rescue missions during mass killing incidents. The entire systematic evaluation process consisted of three main steps. The first step was the systematic data collection according to the quality indicators and operational characteristics. Second was the systematic stratification and assessment of the data. The last step was the prioritisation of the identified weaknesses and the definition of the lessons learned. Results: Five important "lessons learned" have been defined. First of all, a comprehensive concept for rescue missions during terror attacks is essential. Furthermore, the establishment of a defined high priority communication infrastructure between the different dispatch centres ("red phone") is vital. The goal is to secure the continuity of information between a few well-defined individuals. Thirdly, the organization of the incident scene needs to be commonly decided and communicated between police, medical services and fire services during the mission. A successful mission tactic requires continuous flux of reports to the on-site command post. Therefore, a predefined and common communication infrastructure for all operational forces is a crucial point. Finally, all strategies need to be extensively trained before the real life scenario hits. Conclusion: According to a systematic evaluation, we defined the lessons learned from a terror attack in 2016. Further systematic reports and academic work surrounding life threatening rescue missions and mass killing incidents are needed in order to ultimately improve such mission outcomes. In the future, a close international collaboration might help to find the best database to report and evaluate major incidents but also mass killing events.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{SbieraDexneitReichardtetal.2011,
  author    = {Sbiera, Silviu and Dexneit, Thomas and Reichardt, Sybille D. and Michel, Kai D. and van den Brandt, Jens and Schmull, Sebastian and Kraus, Luitgard and Beyer, Melanie and Mlynski, Robert and Wortmann, Sebastian and Allolio, Bruno and Reichardt, Holger M. and Fassnacht, Martin},
  title     = {Influence of Short-Term Glucocorticoid Therapy on Regulatory T Cells \(In\) \(Vivo\)},
  series = {PLoS One},
  volume    = {6},
  journal   = {PLoS One},
  number    = {9},
  doi       = {10.1371/journal.pone.0024345},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-140822},
  pages     = {e24345},
  year      = {2011},
  abstract  = {Background: Pre- and early clinical studies on patients with autoimmune diseases suggested that induction of regulatory T(T(reg)) cells may contribute to the immunosuppressive effects of glucocorticoids(GCs). Objective: We readdressed the influence of GC therapy on T(reg) cells in immunocompetent human subjects and naive mice. Methods: Mice were treated with increasing doses of intravenous dexamethasone followed by oral taper, and T(reg) cells in spleen and blood were analyzed by FACS. Sixteen patients with sudden hearing loss but without an inflammatory disease received high-dose intravenous prednisolone followed by stepwise dose reduction to low oral prednisolone. Peripheral blood T(reg) cells were analyzed prior and after a 14 day GC therapy based on different markers. Results: Repeated GC administration to mice for three days dose-dependently decreased the absolute numbers of T(reg) cells in blood (100 mg dexamethasone/kg body weight: 2.8 +/- 1.8 x 10(4) cells/ml vs. 33 +/- 11 x 10(4) in control mice) and spleen (dexamethasone: 2.8 +/- 1.9 x 10(5)/spleen vs. 95 +/- 22 x 10(5)/spleen in control mice), which slowly recovered after 14 days taper in spleen but not in blood. The relative frequency of FOXP3(+) T(reg) cells amongst the CD4(+) T cells also decreased in a dose dependent manner with the effect being more pronounced in blood than in spleen. The suppressive capacity of T(reg) cells was unaltered by GC treatment in vitro. In immunocompetent humans, GCs induced mild T cell lymphocytosis. However, it did not change the relative frequency of circulating T(reg) cells in a relevant manner, although there was some variation depending on the definition of the T(reg) cells (FOXP3(+): 4.0 +/- 1.5\% vs 3.4 +/- 1.5\%*; AITR(+): 0.660.4 vs 0.5 +/- 0.3\%, CD127(low): 4.0 +/- 1.3 vs 5.0 +/- 3.0\%* and CTLA4+: 13.8 +/- 11.5 vs 15.6 +/- 12.5\%; * p < 0.05). Conclusion: Short-term GC therapy does not induce the hitherto supposed increase in circulating T(reg) cell frequency, neither in immunocompetent humans nor in mice. Thus, it is questionable that the clinical efficacy of GCs is achieved by modulating T(reg) cell numbers.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{FassnachtSbieraDexneitetal.2011,
  author    = {Fassnacht, Martin and Sbiera, Silviu and Dexneit, Thomas and Reichardt, Sybille D. and Michel, Kai D. and van den Brandt, Jens and Schmull, Sebastian and Kraus, Luitgard and Beyer, Melanie and Mlynski, Robert and Wortmann, Sebastian and Allolio, Bruno and Reichardt, Holger M.},
  title     = {Influence of Short-Term Glucocorticoid Therapy on Regulatory T Cells In Vivo},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-74749},
  year      = {2011},
  abstract  = {Background: Pre- and early clinical studies on patients with autoimmune diseases suggested that induction of regulatory T(Treg) cells may contribute to the immunosuppressive effects of glucocorticoids(GCs). Objective: We readdressed the influence of GC therapy on Treg cells in immunocompetent human subjects and na{\i}¨ve mice. Methods: Mice were treated with increasing doses of intravenous dexamethasone followed by oral taper, and Treg cells in spleen and blood were analyzed by FACS. Sixteen patients with sudden hearing loss but without an inflammatory disease received high-dose intravenous prednisolone followed by stepwise dose reduction to low oral prednisolone. Peripheral blood Treg cells were analyzed prior and after a 14 day GC therapy based on different markers. Results: Repeated GC administration to mice for three days dose-dependently decreased the absolute numbers of Treg cells in blood (100 mg dexamethasone/kg body weight: 2.861.86104 cells/ml vs. 336116104 in control mice) and spleen (dexamethasone: 2.861.96105/spleen vs. 956226105/spleen in control mice), which slowly recovered after 14 days taper in spleen but not in blood. The relative frequency of FOXP3+ Treg cells amongst the CD4+ T cells also decreased in a dose dependent manner with the effect being more pronounced in blood than in spleen. The suppressive capacity of Treg cells was unaltered by GC treatment in vitro. In immunocompetent humans, GCs induced mild T cell lymphocytosis. However, it did not change the relative frequency of circulating Treg cells in a relevant manner, although there was some variation depending on the definition of the Treg cells (FOXP3+: 4.061.5\% vs 3.461.5\%*; AITR+: 0.660.4 vs 0.560.3\%, CD127low: 4.061.3 vs 5.063.0\%* and CTLA4+: 13.8611.5 vs 15.6612.5\%; * p,0.05). Conclusion: Short-term GC therapy does not induce the hitherto supposed increase in circulating Treg cell frequency, neither in immunocompetent humans nor in mice. Thus, it is questionable that the clinical efficacy of GCs is achieved by modulating Treg cell numbers.},
  subject      = {Medizin},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{KrausSchneiderSchauliesMiyasakaetal.1991,
  author    = {Kraus, E. and Schneider-Schaulies, Sibylle and Miyasaka, M. and Tamatani, T. and Sedgwick, J.},
  title     = {Augmentation of major histocompatibility complex class I and ICAM-1 expression on glial cells following measles virus infection: evidence for the role of type-1 interferon},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-62301},
  year      = {1991},
  abstract  = {No abstract available},
  subject      = {Virologie},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{HussHalbgebauerOeckletal.2016,
  author    = {Huss, Andr{\´e} M. and Halbgebauer, Steffen and {\"O}ckl, Patrick and Trebst, Corinna and Spreer, Annette and Borisow, Nadja and Harrer, Andrea and Brecht, Isabel and Balint, Bettina and Stich, Oliver and Schlegel, Sabine and Retzlaff, Nele and Winkelmann, Alexander and Roesler, Romy and Lauda, Florian and Yildiz, {\"O}zlem and Voß, Elke and Muche, Rainer and Rauer, Sebastian and Bergh, Florian Then and Otto, Markus and Paul, Friedemann and Wildemann, Brigitte and Kraus, J{\"o}rg and Ruprecht, Klemens and Stangel, Martin and Buttmann, Mathias and Zettl, Uwe K. and Tumani, Hayrettin},
  title     = {Importance of cerebrospinal fluid analysis in the era of McDonald 2010 criteria: a German-Austrian retrospective multicenter study in patients with a clinically isolated syndrome},
  series = {Journal of Neurology},
  volume    = {263},
  journal   = {Journal of Neurology},
  number    = {12},
  doi       = {10.1007/s00415-016-8302-1},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-186619},
  pages     = {2499-2504},
  year      = {2016},
  abstract  = {The majority of patients presenting with a first clinical symptom suggestive of multiple sclerosis (MS) do not fulfill the MRI criteria for dissemination in space and time according to the 2010 revision of the McDonald diagnostic criteria for MS and are thus classified as clinically isolated syndrome (CIS). To re-evaluate the utility of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis in the context of the revised McDonald criteria from 2010, we conducted a retrospective multicenter study aimed at determining the prevalence and predictive value of oligoclonal IgG bands (OCBs) in patients with CIS. Patients were recruited from ten specialized MS centers in Germany and Austria. We collected data from 406 patients; at disease onset, 44/406 (11 \%) fulfilled the McDonald 2010 criteria for MS. Intrathecal IgG OCBs were detected in 310/362 (86 \%) of CIS patients. Those patients were twice as likely to convert to MS according to McDonald 2010 criteria as OCB-negative individuals (hazard ratio = 2.1, p = 0.0014) and in a shorter time period of 25 months (95 \% CI 21-34) compared to 47 months in OCB-negative individuals (95 \% CI 36-85). In patients without brain lesions at first attack and presence of intrathecal OCBs (30/44), conversion rate to MS was 60 \% (18/30), whereas it was only 21 \% (3/14) in those without OCBs. Our data confirm that in patients with CIS the risk of conversion to MS substantially increases if OCBs are present at onset. CSF analysis definitely helps to evaluate the prognosis in patients who do not have MS according to the revised McDonald criteria.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{BeetzKrauselJundi2023,
  author    = {Beetz, M. Jerome and Kraus, Christian and el Jundi, Basil},
  title     = {Neural representation of goal direction in the monarch butterfly brain},
  series = {Nature Communications},
  volume    = {14},
  journal   = {Nature Communications},
  doi       = {10.1038/s41467-023-41526-w},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-358073},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {Neural processing of a desired moving direction requires the continuous comparison between the current heading and the goal direction. While the neural basis underlying the current heading is well-studied, the coding of the goal direction remains unclear in insects. Here, we used tetrode recordings in tethered flying monarch butterflies to unravel how a goal direction is represented in the insect brain. While recording, the butterflies maintained robust goal directions relative to a virtual sun. By resetting their goal directions, we found neurons whose spatial tuning was tightly linked to the goal directions. Importantly, their tuning was unaffected when the butterflies changed their heading after compass perturbations, showing that these neurons specifically encode the goal direction. Overall, we here discovered invertebrate goal-direction neurons that share functional similarities to goal-direction cells reported in mammals. Our results give insights into the evolutionarily conserved principles of goal-directed spatial orientation in animals.},
  language  = {en}
}