Research Interests

Our quest to understand the cellular biophysics of innate immune cells functions starts with neutrophil, the most abundant white blood cell in human and one of the least studied immune cell despite being critical for pathogen clearance. Furthermore, the unique and extreme shape of neutrophils nuclei is just fascinating! Below are the questions we are currently interested in.

Cellular Biophysical Mechanisms of NETosis

Adapted from Thiam et al., 2020

NETosis is a process during which activated neutrophils release their chromatin to the extracellular environment where it can trap pathogens but also worsen inflammation-related diseases. Therefore, we need to understand the detailed mechanisms driving NETosis so that we can trigger it during infection but inhibit it in inflammation-related diseases. Recently, we have shown that neutrophils undergoing NETosis follow a well conserved sequence of cellular events that starts with shedding of microvesicles and culminates in extracellular DNA release via nuclear and cell membrane rupture. Current projects in the lab aim to determine 1) the decision making process that leads to NETosis; 2) the biophysical mechanisms by which neutrophils rupture their membranes during NETosis and 3) what in NETosis is detrimental to the host. Once we understand how NETosis is initiated, completed and damages the host, we can design strategies to control this process as needed by the disease state.

Engineering Neutrophils

Adapted from Thiam et al., 2020

NETosis is a striking example of cell dissociation. We propose that by determining how this dynamic dissociation occurs, we can gain insights on the rules that govern neutrophil differentiation, recruitment to tissues and functions in health and disease. For instance, by understanding how neutrophils rupture their nucleus during NETosis we will learn the building blocks of the nucleus which will allow us to reconstitute this critical cellular organelle with defined biophysical properties to control specific neutrophil functions.

Space Immunology

@drawinscience

We are fascinated by the question of how earth biology would adapt to outer space. Specifically how would the immune system adapt to changes in gravitational fields. Questions we are currently asking relate to whether and how the recruitment of immune cells to tissues and the interactions between immune cells and pathogens (novel pathogens, adapted pathogens?) are impacted by microgravity.