SPECIAL SEMINAR: Dissecting immunological synapse and functional phenotyping of live cells in nano-volume droplet based micro-devices

Cellular functional phenotype and cell-cell communication studies could make substantial progress in understanding mechanisms of immune regulation in hematologic tumors and lead to a variety of possibilities for targeted therapeutic approaches. While flow cytometry has traditionally been used to determine single fixed cell phenotypes, it cannot provide continuous measurements of proteins and secretions in the same individual live cells over time or measure the cellular phenotype during live cell-cell interaction. It is therefore different co-culture methods and immuno-assays are performed on groups of cells to study cell-cell interactions and secretions, under the assumption that all cells of a particular “type” are identical. However, recent evidence from studies of single cells reveals that this assumption is incorrect. Thus new approaches to single cell analyses and live cell-cell interaction on a single cell level are needed to uncover fundamental biological principles and ultimately improve the detection and treatment of disease. Here we propose a new droplet-based microfluidic technology to acquire live functional phenotyping of single cells of human immune system to monitor and regulate their interactions with tumor cells in hematologic cancer-relevant system. In particular, the droplet based microfluidic technology proposed in this application will allow: 1) conducting dynamic and simultaneous multi-parameter analysis of both cell surface and secretions, 2) controlled delivery of regulatory agents and therapeutics to study their effect on functional phenotype of the cell 3) monitoring of cell-cell interactions on a single cell based level as well as 4) fluorescence-activated droplet sorting (FADS) system for specific cell phynotype isolation.

​Host: Prof. Ramit Mehr​

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Prof. Ramit Mehr, PhD
The Mina & Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences
Building 212, Box 61
Bar-Ilan University   (http://www1.biu.ac.il/biu60yearsEn)

Ramat-Gan 5290002
ISRAEL
Phone:  +972-3-531-7990
Fax:       +972-3-736-2560
Email:  ramit.mehr@biu.ac.il
Web:    http://immsilico2.lnx.biu.ac.il/
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