Objective
Leukocytes, white blood cells, patrol the vascular wall of our vessels in search of sites of inflammation. In the so-called leukocyte adhesion cascade, leukocytes flowing at high velocities (up to mm/s) impact the vessel wall, roll at µm/s, and finally migrate at nm/s to the site of inflammation. They are thus subjected to mechanical forces from sub-msec to several minutes. Complete understanding of the physical processes behind leukocyte adhesion requires an approach over multiple length and time scales, from single protein molecules to the whole cell. This is far from being established due, in part, to the lack of techniques covering the wide range of length and time scales involved. We have recently implemented high-speed atomic force microscopy (HS-AFM) to perform force spectroscopy measurements on biological samples with microsec time resolution. The novel acoustic force spectroscopy (AFS) traps hundreds of particles in parallel allowing hours-long measurements on single molecules.
MechaDynA proposes to develop and apply these two novel nanotools to allow force measurements on living cells with the goal of obtaining a complete, multi-scale picture of the physics behind the leukocyte adhesion cascade over the widest dynamic range (µs-min). This will require development of HS-AFM technology and coupling with advanced optical microscopy. We will probe the binding strength of single adhesion complexes, and membrane and cytoskeleton mechanics at physiologically relevant time scales not explored so far. Technologically, it will establish HS-AFM and AFS as force measurement tools for living cells covering the widest temporal range. This will open the door to unexplored physical phenomena in cell biology, biological physics and soft condensed matter. Biomedically, the expected outcomes will provide a mechanistic description of the physical phenomena in leukocyte immune response that may lead to better diagnosis and therapeutics.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy
- natural sciences physical sciences optics spectroscopy
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
ERC-COG - Consolidator Grant
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2017-COG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
13284 Marseille
France
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.