Biophysical methods to quantify mechanics, shapes and forces

SPP寄生虫学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--力求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、定量和比较的分析。POP将寄生虫视为物理实体，并渴望了解控制、允许或限制寄生虫在其宿主内的行为的相关物理学是什么。前提是，这种方法将为最终用于控制寄生虫感染的致病方面的过程提供新的和有用的见解。生物学和医学方面的这种概念上的进步一直是由先进物理技术的获得推动的。因此，获得适当的生物物理方法来量化有关的物理参数，如形状、力学和力，是这项工作取得成功的重要先决条件。本Z项目为该计划内的其他实验项目提供了先进生物物理方法的使能工具包。可用的技术包括：(1)原子力显微镜支持的纳米压痕，用于细胞、结构和组织的机械表征；(2)实时变形能力细胞仪，用于高通量量化细胞形状和变形能力；(3)布里渊显微镜，用于绘制生物样品内部粘弹特性的三维图谱；(4)光学衍射层析成像，用于表征细胞和小型生物内部的质量密度分布；以及(5)具有明确机械特性(弹性模数0.5-15kpa)和尺寸(直径8-25微米)的水凝胶微珠，作为细胞尺度的应力传感器。将对SPP内感兴趣的项目合作伙伴进行有关这些技术以及相关物理背景和概念的教育。实验将在我们在Erlangen的实验室联合进行，或在适当的指导下单独进行。现有的方法和途径将针对手头的具体实验问题进行改进，并将在必要时启动新方法的开发。由于在该计划范围内申请资助的许多同事来自更传统的寄生虫学领域，他们以前没有接触过或接触过生物物理工具，因此这一Z项目是该计划成功的关键组成部分。在许多情况下，我们将共同提供第一个、甚至是最基本的、但也是最基本的机械性能、形状和力的量化，对寄生虫学领域产生潜在的变革影响。

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.