Physical Aspects of Lymphocyte Activation

这个项目将使用实验和理论相结合的方法来验证这样的假设，即细胞骨架产生的机械力对于T细胞激活过程中有效的免疫反应是重要的。T细胞在信号激活过程中产生的力将被测量，并与细胞骨架蛋白和受体簇以及信号的细胞内动力学相关。将对信号和力产生之间的反馈进行计算机模拟，以与中断机械力化学反馈的分子扰动的实验结果进行比较。这项研究将为物理力在淋巴细胞生化信号功能中的作用提供基本的见解。该研究项目将利用物理学和细胞生物学的实验和理论工具加强对生物系统的理解。特别是，对免疫细胞激活方式的更深入了解可能会促进未来的生物医学进步。将开发一门名为细胞动力学的课程，在该课程中将使用统计和连续介质力学等主题的概念来解释生物过程。实验室部分将向学生介绍基本的生物物理技术和细胞生物学实验。将鼓励来自弱势社会经济背景的学生以及高中生，特别是来自该地区高中的女性参与研究。作为这项研究的一部分，为模拟肌动蛋白动力学和机械信号而开发的软件将公开可用。

This project will use a combination of experiment and theory to test the hypothesis that mechanical forces generated by the cytoskeleton are important for efficient immune response during T cell activation. Forces generated by T cells during signaling activation will be measured and correlated with intracellular dynamics of cytoskeletal proteins and receptor clusters as well as signaling. Computer simulations of the feedback between signaling and force generation will be developed to compare with experimental results on molecular perturbations that interrupt the mechanochemical feedback. This research will provide fundamental insights into the role of physical forces in the biochemical signaling function of lymphocytes. The research project will enhance the understanding of biological systems using experimental and theoretical tools from Physics and Cell Biology. In particular, gaining deeper insights into the way immune cells are activated may facilitate future biomedical advances. A course titled Dynamics of Cells will be developed in which concepts from topics, such as statistical and continuum mechanics, will be used to explain biological processes. A laboratory component will introduce students to basic biophysics techniques and cell biology experiments. Students from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds, as well as high school students, especially females from the area high schools, will be encouraged to participate in research. Software developed as part of this research to model actin dynamics and mechanical signaling will be made publicly available.