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DTSTAMP:20260422T090514Z
SUMMARY:Prof Daan Vorselen: Interplay between Target Rigidity and Geometry 
 Governs Phagocytic Outcomes
DESCRIPTION:\nInterplay between Target Rigidity and Geometry Governs Phagoc
 ytic Outcomes\n\n\nImmune cells encounter an enormous variety of threats\,
  from small rigid bacteria to malleable cancer cells and irregularly shape
 d microplastics. Beyond biochemical signals\, the diverse physical propert
 ies of such targets have emerged as key regulators of immune responses. In
  our lab we focus on innate immune cells\, which are the first responders 
 to these threats\, and which use biophysical cues to guide target selectio
 n and enhance target killing. We use a profoundly interdisciplinary approa
 ch\, combining development of controlled microparticles to interrogate imm
 une functions\, with quantitative imaging\, molecular biology approaches a
 nd development of new biophysical approaches. In this talk\, I will presen
 t our recent work revealing that stiffer spherical particles are phagocyto
 sed (i.e. eaten) more efficiently than softer ones. Surprisingly\, and in 
 stark contrast to spheres\, uptake of microrods is more efficient for soft
 er than stiffer rods. Rigidity dependence of rod uptake persists up to unu
 sually high stiffness (~1 MPa) and is integrin-independent. Instead\, the 
 overall bending flexibility of rods seems to regulate phagocytosis. Live-c
 ell imaging experiments reveal minimal bending of soft microrods during ph
 agocytic engulfment\, and suggest that rigidity dependence arises post cel
 lular internalization during intracellular maturation of phagosomes. Toget
 her\, these results reveal a complex interplay in regulation of innate imm
 unity by biophysical cues and may ultimately offer new insights to interve
 ne with macrophage functions therapeutically.
URL:https://www.imperial.ac.uk/events/207736/prof-daan-vorselen-interplay/
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260417T140000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260417T150000
LOCATION:SEC-326\, Sir Ernst Chain Building\, South Kensington Campus\, Imp
 erial College London\, London\, SW7 2AZ\, United Kingdom
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