Biophysical methods to quantify mechanics, shapes and forces

量化力学、形状和力的生物物理方法

• 批准号: 492010287
• 负责人: Professor Dr. Jochen Guck
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Max-Planck-Institut für die Physik des Lichts
• 依托单位国家: 德国
• 项目类别: Priority Programmes
• 资助国家: 德国
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/492010287?language=en
• 关键词: Biophysical; methods; quantify; mechanics; shapes

The central objective of the SPP Physics of Parasitism is the establishment of a new field of enquiry — physical parasitology — which seeks to provide a systematic, quantitative and comparative analysis of the physical foundations of the epic struggle between parasites and their hosts. PoP considers parasites as physical entities, and aspires to understand what the relevant physics is that governs, enables or limits, the behaviour of parasites within their hosts. The premise is that this approach will provide novel and useful insight into processes that could ultimately be used to control the pathogenic aspects of parasite infection. Such conceptual advances in biology and medicine have always driven by access to advanced physical technology. Thus, it is an essential prerequisite for the success of this endeavour to have access to appropriate biophysical methods to quantify the relevant physical parameters such as shapes, mechanics and forces. The present Z-project provides an enabling toolset of advanced biophysical methods for the other experimental projects within this SPP. Available are (1) atomic force microscopy-enabled nanoindentation for mechanical characterization of cells, structures and tissues, (2) real-time deformability cytometry for high-throughput quantification of cell shape and deformability, (3) Brillouin microscopy for the 3D mapping of viscoelastic properties inside biological samples, (4) optical diffraction tomography for the 3D characterization of mass density distributions inside cells and small organisms, and (5) hydrogel beads with well-defined mechanical properties (elastic modulus 0.5 – 15 kPa) and size (diameter 8 – 25 µm) as cell-scale stress sensors. Interested project partners within the SPP will be educated about these techniques and the relevant physics background and concepts. Experiments will be conducted jointly, or independently after appropriate instruction, in our labs in Erlangen. The existing methods and approaches will be refined for the specific experimental questions at hand, and novel methods development will be initiated as necessary. As many of the colleagues applying for funding within this SPP come from more traditional areas of parasitology, and have no prior exposure, or access, to biophysical tools, this Z-project is a crucial component for the success of this SPP. Together we will provide in many cases the first, even most basic, yet essential quantification of mechanical properties, shapes and forces with a potential transformative impact on the field of parasitology.

SPP 寄生物理学的中心目标是建立一个新的研究领域——物理寄生虫学——旨在对寄生虫与其宿主之间史诗般的斗争的物理基础进行系统、定量和比较分析。 PoP 将寄生虫视为物理实体，并渴望了解控制、启用或限制宿主体内寄生虫行为的相关物理原理。前提是这种方法将为最终可用于控制寄生虫感染的致病方面的过程提供新颖且有用的见解。生物学和医学的此类概念进步始终是由先进的物理技术推动的。因此，获得适当的生物物理方法来量化相关的物理参数（例如形状、力学和力）是这项努力成功的重要先决条件。目前的 Z 项目为该 SPP 内的其他实验项目提供了先进生物物理方法的支持工具集。可用的有 (1) 原子力显微镜纳米压痕技术，用于细胞、结构和组织的机械表征；(2) 实时变形性细胞术，用于高通量量化细胞形状和变形性；(3) 布里渊显微镜，用于生物样品内部粘弹性特性的 3D 绘图；(4) 光学衍射断层扫描，用于细胞和小颗粒内部质量密度分布的 3D 表征。 (5) 具有明确机械性能（弹性模量 0.5 – 15 kPa）和尺寸（直径 8 – 25 µm）的水凝胶珠作为细胞尺度的应力传感器。 SPP 内感兴趣的项目合作伙伴将接受有关这些技术以及相关物理背景和概念的教育。实验将在我们位于埃尔兰根的实验室中联合进行，或在适当的指导下独立进行。现有的方法和途径将针对当前的具体实验问题进行改进，并根据需要启动新方法的开发。由于在该 SPP 中申请资金的许多同事来自更传统的寄生虫学领域，并且之前没有接触过或接触过生物物理工具，因此该 Z 项目是该 SPP 成功的关键组成部分。在许多情况下，我们将共同提供机械特性、形状和力的第一个、甚至是最基本但必不可少的量化，对寄生虫学领域具有潜在的变革性影响。