Interaction of natural killer cells with an infected cancer cell population: microfluidics-based experiments and single-cell-level mathematical modeling
Institute of Fundamental Technological Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences ·Poland
About this project
<p>PROJECT TITLE: Interaction of natural killer cells with infected cancer cell population: microfluidics-based<br> experiments and single-cell-level mathematical modeling<br> OBJECTIVES. The aim of the project is to analyze interactions of natural killer (NK) cells with an infected cell<br> population at the single-cell resolution. Specifically, we will investigate the interactions of primary NK cells, two<br> respiratory epithelial cell lines: cancerous A549 and non-cancerous BEAS-2B, and two respiratory viruses:<br> respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza A virus (IAV). The A549 cell line and RSV will be the primary<br> subjects of research. The main objectives are as follows:<br> a) Elucidation of the impact of NK cell-induced cell death on the dynamics of propagation and eradication of<br> RSV and IAV infections. Characterization of distinct specificities of NK cells towards the infected and the noninfected<br> subpopulation of the cell culture.<br> b) Determination of the capacity of NK cells to induce immunogenic cell death in infected cells.<br> c) Development of a droplet-based microfluidic system to perform experiments on co-cultures of adherent<br> and suspended cells, that will enable data acquisition at the single-cell resolution.<br> d) Development of an agent-based, spatial stochastic model capturing interactions of NK cells with an<br> infected cell population.</p> <p>IMPACT. We envision that outcomes of the project will increase our understanding of (i) the role of NK cells in<br> elimination or suppression of virus propagation, (ii) their potential role in cancer immunotherapies, (iii)<br> applicability of droplet microfluidics technologies for the adherent cells studies.</p>
Bilateral cooperation results
The bilateral collaboration was satisfactory. SINTEF offered PhD students an international educational experience through research visits in SINTEF laboratories. As a result of the cooperation the aplication “Inflammatory modes of regulated cell death in respiratory viral infections” was submitted on 2023-12-15 and it is recommended for funding by National Science Centre.
Project partners
- SINTEF AS Donor project partner· Norway