We published the first paper obtained with our in-house designed and built laminar flow chamber automation. This innovative machine allows fast single molecular force studies, for both kinetics and thermodynamic studies. Please see: A Rough Energy Landscape to Describe Surface-Linked Antibody and Antigen Bond Formation. Sci Rep. 2016 Oct 12;6:35193.
Congrats, Alexander !
Alexander just defended his PhD… congrats !
PhD defense of Alexander Hornung
Congratulations to Dr Alexander Hornung who got his PhD in Biophysics from the doctoral school of Physics. His thesis was under the supervision of Marie-Pierre Valignat and is entitled “Two-dimensional migration of human effector T-cells: Integrin-dependent motility studies under shear stress”.
A new article on single bond physics in Scientific Reports
A Rough Energy Landscape to Describe Surface-Linked Antibody and Antigen Bond Formation. Limozin L, Bongrand P , Robert P (2016) Sci. Rep. 6:35193
A new article on excystation and differentiation of T. gondii sporozoites into tachyzoites mediated by macrophages interactions in Scientific reports
Toxoplasma gondii is a common parasite of humans and animals, which is transmitted via oocysts in cat faeces or tissue cysts in contaminated meat. Given the resistance of the oocyst wall to digestive enzymes and the ability of oocysts to cause parenteral infections, the present study investigated the possible contribution of macrophages in supporting sporozoite excystation following oocyst internalisation. By using single cell micromanipulations, real-time and time-point imaging techniques, we demonstrated that RAW macrophages could interact rapidly with oocysts and engulfed them by remodelling of their actin cytoskeleton. Internalised oocysts were associated to macrophage acidic compartments and showed evidences of wall disruption. Sporozoites were observed in macrophages containing oocyst remnants or in new macrophages, giving rise to dividing tachyzoites. We highligh an unexpected role for the macrophage in facilitating the excystation and differentiation of T. gondii sporozoites following oocyst internalisation.
https://www.nature.com/articles/srep33654
Follow-up of the complete internalisation of one oocyst by a micropipette-held macrophage. Scale bar: 10μm
Change of Director at LAI
Pierre Bongrand becomes officially Emeritus professor of AMU and Olivier Theodoly becomes the director of LAI. The goal is to pursue the original activity of the LAI on quantitative biophysics and transfer to medicine, and to foster further the scientific dynamics within the unit.
LAI sails to Cargese Summer School
Laurene Aoun, Xuan Luo and Olivier Theodoly sailed off from Marseille to participate to the CNRS summer School on active matter. They crossed whales on the way but unlike Jonas, they didn’t need their help to safely reach the harbour 3 days later. Nice conference to the LAI sailors.
Pierre Bongrand is awarded an Emeritus Professor position at LAI for 3 years
The LAI will be happy to benefit from the great experience of its historical founder for the next quinquennial. Congratulations, Pierre.
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