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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20161028T100000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20161028T120000
DTSTAMP:20260517T010656
CREATED:20161024T075147Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20161024T075147Z
UID:95935-1477648800-1477656000@ibecbarcelona.eu
SUMMARY:PhD Discussions: Ágata Mata and Lucas Pedraz
DESCRIPTION:Role of secreted Sema3E in embryonic and adult hippocampal formation\nÁgata Mata Rodríguez\, Molecular and cellular neurobiotechnology group\nDue to its implication in many cognitive processes like learning and memory\, the hippocampal formation is a brain structure which has been widely studied over the years. Its simplified architecture\, where principal cells are in a single cell layer and synaptic inputs are in well defined dendritic lamina\, has enabled the study and establishment of the general principles of modern neuroscience. Behind this simplicity resides the action of numerous factors that regulate the correct development of the structure. \nThe principle entrance of information to the hippocampus is the entorhino-hippocampal (EH) pathway or perforant pathway\, where axons arising from the entorhinal cortex enter the hippocampus proper and arrive to the outer molecular layer of the dentate gyrus. The development of this pathway is highly regulated and some of the molecules that intervene in this process are the class III Semaphorins. \nClass III Semaphorins are soluble molecules initially known by its function in axonal guidance. It is known that some of these molecules and their receptors are involved in the development and maturation of the hippocampal connections\, nevertheless\, the participation of Sema3E and its receptor\, PlexinD1\, in the development of the entorhino-hippocampal connection has not been studied in detail. With this in mind\, in the present study we focused on determining their role during development and adulthood. \nOur results show that in absence of Sema3E/PlexinD1 signalling (i) there is an aberrant layering of the entorhinal axons in the hippocampus during development\, and (ii) there are some alterations in the adult hippocampal formation such as misrouted ectopic mossy fibres and ectopic granule cells in the dentate gyrus due to a dysregulation in the proliferation of dentate gyrus progenitors. \n \n\nRegulation of DNA synthesis in bacterial biofilms: An in vitro system for modelization of the oxygen gradients present in the chronic infections biofilms\nLucas Pedraz López\, Bacterial infections: antimicrobial therapies\nChronic infections represent one of the main threats to human health nowadays\, being one of the main causes of death even in the developed countries. These infections are always associated with the developing of a biofilm\, complex 3D structures where cells are encapsulated in an extracellular polymeric matrix\, seeing increased their resistance to antibiotic therapies and physical stress. In biofilms\, oxygen cannot diffuse freely throughout the structure\, generating an oxygen concentration gradient and leading to the presence of microaerophilic and anaerobic environments. \nGiven the urgent need to develop new antimicrobial therapies\, many aspects of bacterial physiology are being studied trying to understand better the underlying molecular mechanisms of their growing and virulence. However\, one of the major factors affecting the differential behavior in the biofilm is the oxygen concentration\, and\, in most cases\, studies have only been conducted using biofilms as a whole\, or using fully aerobic or fully anaerobic liquid cultures; in real world conditions\, transition from aerobiosis to anaerobiosis is never done in a single step\, having always a spatial and/or temporal gradient of oxygen concentrations\, and gene regulation during intermediate stages of this gradient\, in microaerophilic environments or during dynamical oxygen concentration changes\, has not been studied properly. \nIn our lab we have developed a method to monitor bacterial gene expression as determined by oxygen concentration\, during a progressive change in oxygenation conditions\, that can be implemented in any microbiology lab and that only relies on common laboratory equipment. The method is based on a chemostat-like bioreactor coupled to an oxygen tension continuous detection system that also allows for discontinuous sampling. Initially\, this system is now being applied to the determination of the changes in ribonucleotide reductase gene expression profile determined by oxygen concentration in a Pseudomonas aeruginosa liquid culture.
URL:https://ibecbarcelona.eu/event/phd-discussions-agata-mata-and-lucas-pedraz-2/
CATEGORIES:PhD Discussions Session
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20160708T100000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20160708T110000
DTSTAMP:20260517T010656
CREATED:20160705T171136Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20160705T171136Z
UID:23873-1467972000-1467975600@ibecbarcelona.eu
SUMMARY:PhD Discussion Session: Pilar Rodríguez and Montserrat López
DESCRIPTION:Long-ranged force patterns and waves during the formation and maintenance of repulsive epithelial barriers\nPilar Rodríguez Franco\, Integrative cell and tissue dynamics group\nFor an organism to develop and maintain homeostasis\, cell types with distinct functions must often be separated by physical boundaries. A prevalent mechanism for the formation and maintenance of such boundaries is the repulsive interaction between Eph receptor tyrosine kinases and their ligands Ephrins. Upon contact\, cells expressing Eph and Ephrin trigger diverse local mechanisms that prevent intercellular adhesion\, including receptor endocytosis\, extracellular cadherin cleavage\, and local contractility. Here we show that\, besides these local subcellular mechanisms\, Eph/Ephrin boundary formation involves cooperative physical forces generated by cells located many rows behind the boundary. Contact between two epithelial monolayers\, one expressing Eph and one expressing Ephrin\, results in the buildup of two supracellular acto-myosin cables that line epithelial edges at both sides of the boundary. Besides these cables\, both monolayers exhibit long-lived periodic patterns of traction forces that expand several cell rows and tend to pull the monolayer away from the boundary\, thereby contributing to sustain tissue segregation. The formation of these patterns is paralleled by the generation of soliton-like deformation waves that propagate away from the boundary. Finally\, we show that periodic traction patterns and mechanical waves are observed not only during Eph/Ephrin repulsion but also during formation of diverse types of barriers. Our findings thus unveil a global physical mechanism that sustains tissue separation. \n  \nNanoscale Conductance mapping of redox proteins\nMontserrat López Martínez\, Nanoprobes and nanoswitches group\nElectron Transfer (ET) plays essential roles in crucial biological processes such as cell respiration and photosynthesis. It takes place between redox proteins and in protein complexes that display an outstanding efficiency and environmental adaptability. Although the fundamental aspects of ET processes are well understood\, more experimental methods are needed to determine electronic pathways in these redox protein structures. Understanding how ET works is important not only for fundamental reasons\, but also for the potential technological applications of these redox-active nanoscale systems.\nElectrochemical Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (ECSTM) is an excellent tool to study redox molecules including proteins. It offers single molecule resolution and allows working in nearly physiological conditions\, with full electrochemical control. Beyond imaging\, ECSTM allows performing current-voltage and current-distance tunneling spectroscopy. We adapted the current-voltage spectroscopy mode of ECSTM to obtain simultaneous topographic and differential conductance images under potentiostatic control. After validation of the method we applied it to the study of the redox protein Azurin immobilized on to a Au  surface\, a model system to study biological ET processes.
URL:https://ibecbarcelona.eu/event/phd-discussion-session-pilar-rodriguez-and-montserrat-lopez/
CATEGORIES:PhD Discussions Session
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20160708T100000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20160708T110000
DTSTAMP:20260517T010656
CREATED:20160705T171136Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20160705T171136Z
UID:95915-1467972000-1467975600@ibecbarcelona.eu
SUMMARY:PhD Discussion Session: Pilar Rodríguez and Montserrat López
DESCRIPTION:Long-ranged force patterns and waves during the formation and maintenance of repulsive epithelial barriers\nPilar Rodríguez Franco\, Integrative cell and tissue dynamics group\nFor an organism to develop and maintain homeostasis\, cell types with distinct functions must often be separated by physical boundaries. A prevalent mechanism for the formation and maintenance of such boundaries is the repulsive interaction between Eph receptor tyrosine kinases and their ligands Ephrins. Upon contact\, cells expressing Eph and Ephrin trigger diverse local mechanisms that prevent intercellular adhesion\, including receptor endocytosis\, extracellular cadherin cleavage\, and local contractility. Here we show that\, besides these local subcellular mechanisms\, Eph/Ephrin boundary formation involves cooperative physical forces generated by cells located many rows behind the boundary. Contact between two epithelial monolayers\, one expressing Eph and one expressing Ephrin\, results in the buildup of two supracellular acto-myosin cables that line epithelial edges at both sides of the boundary. Besides these cables\, both monolayers exhibit long-lived periodic patterns of traction forces that expand several cell rows and tend to pull the monolayer away from the boundary\, thereby contributing to sustain tissue segregation. The formation of these patterns is paralleled by the generation of soliton-like deformation waves that propagate away from the boundary. Finally\, we show that periodic traction patterns and mechanical waves are observed not only during Eph/Ephrin repulsion but also during formation of diverse types of barriers. Our findings thus unveil a global physical mechanism that sustains tissue separation. \n  \nNanoscale Conductance mapping of redox proteins\nMontserrat López Martínez\, Nanoprobes and nanoswitches group\nElectron Transfer (ET) plays essential roles in crucial biological processes such as cell respiration and photosynthesis. It takes place between redox proteins and in protein complexes that display an outstanding efficiency and environmental adaptability. Although the fundamental aspects of ET processes are well understood\, more experimental methods are needed to determine electronic pathways in these redox protein structures. Understanding how ET works is important not only for fundamental reasons\, but also for the potential technological applications of these redox-active nanoscale systems.\nElectrochemical Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (ECSTM) is an excellent tool to study redox molecules including proteins. It offers single molecule resolution and allows working in nearly physiological conditions\, with full electrochemical control. Beyond imaging\, ECSTM allows performing current-voltage and current-distance tunneling spectroscopy. We adapted the current-voltage spectroscopy mode of ECSTM to obtain simultaneous topographic and differential conductance images under potentiostatic control. After validation of the method we applied it to the study of the redox protein Azurin immobilized on to a Au  surface\, a model system to study biological ET processes.
URL:https://ibecbarcelona.eu/event/phd-discussion-session-pilar-rodriguez-and-montserrat-lopez-2/
CATEGORIES:PhD Discussions Session
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20160527T100000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20160527T110000
DTSTAMP:20260517T010656
CREATED:20160415T062711Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20160520T055544Z
UID:22419-1464343200-1464346800@ibecbarcelona.eu
SUMMARY:PhD Discussion Session: Elisabet Martí and Maria Valls
DESCRIPTION:Amphoteric polyamidoamines as innovative tools to selectively direct antimalarial drug towards Plasmodium-infected red blood cells\nElisabet Martí\, Nanomalaria joint group\nMalaria\, caused by the protist Plasmodium spp.\, in 2015 alone claimed the lives of more than 400\,000 people\, mainly young African children\, and it had been responsible for 214 million new cases. Despite a significant decrease in the number of malaria-related deaths\, there is still a need for new therapeutic strategies such as finding new antimalarial drugs or substantially improving old ones\, by decreasing side effects and avoiding resistance appearance. The development of highly specific and efficient targeted nanocarriers can be the engine of this change\, which however needs to be done at an affordable cost for malaria endemic countries. \nFour different polyamidoamine (PAA) polymers are being studied in our group with the aim of developing a targeted nanovector capable of reaching in the mid term the preclinical pipeline. \nThe PAA AGMA1 had shown in previous studies antimalarial activity per se at non-toxic concentrations\, as well as certain specificity for pRBCs vs. RBCs. We are trying to elucidate the corresponding mechanisms by characterizing the interaction between AGMA1 and pRBCs. Experiments such as targeting and growth inhibition assays in vitro\, antimalarial activity in vivo and determination of encapsulation capacity are being currently performedwith AGMA1and with three other PAAs: ISA23\, ISA1 and ARGO7. Preliminary results suggest the capacity of AGMA1 to activate the immune system\, indicating that PAAs could be eventually used as an agent with double activity as a drug nanocarrier and as a prophylactic agent. \n  \nDevelopment of a Biomimetic Bioreactor for Cardiac Tissue Engineering Applications\nMaria Valls\, Biomimetic systems for cell engineering group\nIschemic heart disease is a major cause of human death worldwide owing to the heart’s minimal ability to repair following injury. Therefore\, shedding light on heart regeneration and its possible application in medicine is of paramount interest for the scientific community. In this sense\, cardiac tissue engineering aims at obtaining cardiac patches for regenerative medicine purposes. In addition\, these patches could serve as valuable in vitro models to study heart development and regeneration\, heart diseases or as drug screening platforms. \nA prerequisite for obtaining faithful cardiac patches is to mimic the native cardiac environment. Although major advances have been done\, the generation of mature tissue constructs from human induced pluripotent stem (hiPS) cells is still a challenge. To address this\, we have developed a parallelized perfusion bioreactor system and characterized a collagen-based 3D scaffold. Also\, we have designed a perfusion chamber including graphite electrodes to electrically stimulate cells during culture. With this setup\, we have obtained contractile cardiac tissue constructs from primary cultures of neonatal rat heart ventricles that show an enhanced response when cultured under electrical stimulation. \nWe are currently culturing cardiac progenitors derived from hiPS cells\, to produce useful human cardiac tissue surrogates to study cardiovascular tissue maturation as well as for drug/toxicity testing.
URL:https://ibecbarcelona.eu/event/phd-discussion-session-elisabet-marti-and-maria-valls/
CATEGORIES:PhD Discussions Session
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20160527T100000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20160527T110000
DTSTAMP:20260517T010656
CREATED:20160415T062711Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20160415T062711Z
UID:95907-1464343200-1464346800@ibecbarcelona.eu
SUMMARY:PhD Discussion Session: Elisabet Martí and Maria Valls
DESCRIPTION:Amphoteric polyamidoamines as innovative tools to selectively direct antimalarial drug towards Plasmodium-infected red blood cells\nElisabet Martí\, Nanomalaria joint group\nMalaria\, caused by the protist Plasmodium spp.\, in 2015 alone claimed the lives of more than 400\,000 people\, mainly young African children\, and it had been responsible for 214 million new cases. Despite a significant decrease in the number of malaria-related deaths\, there is still a need for new therapeutic strategies such as finding new antimalarial drugs or substantially improving old ones\, by decreasing side effects and avoiding resistance appearance. The development of highly specific and efficient targeted nanocarriers can be the engine of this change\, which however needs to be done at an affordable cost for malaria endemic countries. \nFour different polyamidoamine (PAA) polymers are being studied in our group with the aim of developing a targeted nanovector capable of reaching in the mid term the preclinical pipeline. \nThe PAA AGMA1 had shown in previous studies antimalarial activity per se at non-toxic concentrations\, as well as certain specificity for pRBCs vs. RBCs. We are trying to elucidate the corresponding mechanisms by characterizing the interaction between AGMA1 and pRBCs. Experiments such as targeting and growth inhibition assays in vitro\, antimalarial activity in vivo and determination of encapsulation capacity are being currently performedwith AGMA1and with three other PAAs: ISA23\, ISA1 and ARGO7. Preliminary results suggest the capacity of AGMA1 to activate the immune system\, indicating that PAAs could be eventually used as an agent with double activity as a drug nanocarrier and as a prophylactic agent. \n  \nDevelopment of a Biomimetic Bioreactor for Cardiac Tissue Engineering Applications\nMaria Valls\, Biomimetic systems for cell engineering group\nIschemic heart disease is a major cause of human death worldwide owing to the heart’s minimal ability to repair following injury. Therefore\, shedding light on heart regeneration and its possible application in medicine is of paramount interest for the scientific community. In this sense\, cardiac tissue engineering aims at obtaining cardiac patches for regenerative medicine purposes. In addition\, these patches could serve as valuable in vitro models to study heart development and regeneration\, heart diseases or as drug screening platforms. \nA prerequisite for obtaining faithful cardiac patches is to mimic the native cardiac environment. Although major advances have been done\, the generation of mature tissue constructs from human induced pluripotent stem (hiPS) cells is still a challenge. To address this\, we have developed a parallelized perfusion bioreactor system and characterized a collagen-based 3D scaffold. Also\, we have designed a perfusion chamber including graphite electrodes to electrically stimulate cells during culture. With this setup\, we have obtained contractile cardiac tissue constructs from primary cultures of neonatal rat heart ventricles that show an enhanced response when cultured under electrical stimulation. \nWe are currently culturing cardiac progenitors derived from hiPS cells\, to produce useful human cardiac tissue surrogates to study cardiovascular tissue maturation as well as for drug/toxicity testing.
URL:https://ibecbarcelona.eu/event/phd-discussion-session-elisabet-marti-and-maria-valls-2/
CATEGORIES:PhD Discussions Session
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20160122T100000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20160122T110000
DTSTAMP:20260517T010657
CREATED:20151027T094305Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20151027T094305Z
UID:95875-1453456800-1453460400@ibecbarcelona.eu
SUMMARY:PhD Discussion Session: Ana María Solórzano and Joan Martí Muñoz
DESCRIPTION:Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: Societal Impact\, Physiological Mechanism and Associated Chemical Instrumentation\nAna María Solórzano\, Signal and information processing for sensing systems group\nThe hazardousness of carbon monoxide is based on the inability of humans to detect it. Carbon monoxide is not irritating and has no color\, odor or either taste. The exposure to this gas can starve critical body organs specially vital organs like brain and heart. \nThe study and analysis of CO poisoning is not new. Even though in the last decades the society has been raised awareness on CO hazard\, accidental deaths are still produced by exposure to this gas. \nThe health effects of the CO poisoning depend on its concentration and time exposure. Health problems are noticeable with concentrations since 0.01% (100ppm).; this is the reason that the medical Instrumentation is an essential tool for the detection of CO. There is a kind of instrumentation\, which detects CO in the bloodstream\, and in the atmosphere but the early detection of this compound still is a challenge. \nWe are exploring how multi gas sensor arrays can be an effective solution to detect CO faster than typical alarms. \n  \nCalcium releasing ormoglass coated PLA nanofibers: A new approach for bone regeneration\nJoan Martí Muñoz\, Biomaterials for regenerative therapies group\nBone fracture healing has become a serious problem in the last decades in part due to the increase in life expectancy (1). The use of strategies that help body to restore bone are needed to increase the quality life of people suffering this problem. Among this strategies\, the use of natural sources such as; bone\, growth factors and other biomolecules has become an efficient option\, but present some limitations like money cost\, amount limitation and storage\, extra surgeries\, rejection and possible disease transmission (1). \nThe use of synthetic materials can be an effective option. However they need to be tuned to include the proper bioactive signals. Hybrid materials are and interesting alternative. Their organic phase\, normally a biodegradable biopolymer\, holds the mechanical stress while their inorganic phase\, a glass or ceramic\, provides the needed bioactivity to recruit cells and produce bone. In many cases\, the masking of the bioactive inorganic phase embedded in the organic matrix and undesired phase-detachments must be solved to increase efectiveness (2). Another limitation is the poor vascularization that synthetic materials induce. \nPrevious studies in our group demonstrated that extracellular Ca2+ release can promote angiogenesis (3). Here we present two different strategies: the first one consisting in CaP Ti-doped degradable ormoglass nanoparticles embedded inside polylactic acid (PLA) electrospun bioresorbable nanofibers; the second one consisting in CaP Si-doped degradable ormoglass nanoparticles (2) covalently attached on the surface of PLA electrospun nanofibers. In both cases the Ca2+ release by the ormoglass nanoparticles may activate the proper cell responses while the polymer provides the needed support to hold the particles and allow tissue growth. In the second case the attempt is to solve nanoparticle masking and detachment. \n1 M. Navarro et al. J. R. Soc. Interface (2008) 5\, 1137-1158.\n2 N. Sachot et al. J. R. Soc. Interface (2013) 10\, 20130684.\n3 A. Aguirre et al. European Cells and Materials Vol. 24 2012 (pages 90-106). \n 
URL:https://ibecbarcelona.eu/event/phd-discussion-session-ana-maria-solorzano-and-joan-marti-munoz-2/
CATEGORIES:PhD Discussions Session
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20160122T100000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20160122T110000
DTSTAMP:20260517T010657
CREATED:20151027T094305Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20160118T081841Z
UID:19437-1453456800-1453460400@ibecbarcelona.eu
SUMMARY:PhD Discussion Session: Ana María Solórzano and Joan Martí Muñoz
DESCRIPTION:Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: Societal Impact\, Physiological Mechanism and Associated Chemical Instrumentation\nAna María Solórzano\, Signal and information processing for sensing systems group\nThe hazardousness of carbon monoxide is based on the inability of humans to detect it. Carbon monoxide is not irritating and has no color\, odor or either taste. The exposure to this gas can starve critical body organs specially vital organs like brain and heart. \nThe study and analysis of CO poisoning is not new. Even though in the last decades the society has been raised awareness on CO hazard\, accidental deaths are still produced by exposure to this gas. \nThe health effects of the CO poisoning depend on its concentration and time exposure. Health problems are noticeable with concentrations since 0.01% (100ppm).; this is the reason that the medical Instrumentation is an essential tool for the detection of CO. There is a kind of instrumentation\, which detects CO in the bloodstream\, and in the atmosphere but the early detection of this compound still is a challenge. \nWe are exploring how multi gas sensor arrays can be an effective solution to detect CO faster than typical alarms. \n  \nCalcium releasing ormoglass coated PLA nanofibers: A new approach for bone regeneration\nJoan Martí Muñoz\, Biomaterials for regenerative therapies group\nBone fracture healing has become a serious problem in the last decades in part due to the increase in life expectancy (1). The use of strategies that help body to restore bone are needed to increase the quality life of people suffering this problem. Among this strategies\, the use of natural sources such as; bone\, growth factors and other biomolecules has become an efficient option\, but present some limitations like money cost\, amount limitation and storage\, extra surgeries\, rejection and possible disease transmission (1). \nThe use of synthetic materials can be an effective option. However they need to be tuned to include the proper bioactive signals. Hybrid materials are and interesting alternative. Their organic phase\, normally a biodegradable biopolymer\, holds the mechanical stress while their inorganic phase\, a glass or ceramic\, provides the needed bioactivity to recruit cells and produce bone. In many cases\, the masking of the bioactive inorganic phase embedded in the organic matrix and undesired phase-detachments must be solved to increase efectiveness (2). Another limitation is the poor vascularization that synthetic materials induce. \nPrevious studies in our group demonstrated that extracellular Ca2+ release can promote angiogenesis (3). Here we present two different strategies: the first one consisting in CaP Ti-doped degradable ormoglass nanoparticles embedded inside polylactic acid (PLA) electrospun bioresorbable nanofibers; the second one consisting in CaP Si-doped degradable ormoglass nanoparticles (2) covalently attached on the surface of PLA electrospun nanofibers. In both cases the Ca2+ release by the ormoglass nanoparticles may activate the proper cell responses while the polymer provides the needed support to hold the particles and allow tissue growth. In the second case the attempt is to solve nanoparticle masking and detachment. \n1 M. Navarro et al. J. R. Soc. Interface (2008) 5\, 1137-1158.\n2 N. Sachot et al. J. R. Soc. Interface (2013) 10\, 20130684.\n3 A. Aguirre et al. European Cells and Materials Vol. 24 2012 (pages 90-106). \n 
URL:https://ibecbarcelona.eu/event/phd-discussion-session-ana-maria-solorzano-and-joan-marti-munoz/
CATEGORIES:PhD Discussions Session
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20151127T100000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20151127T110000
DTSTAMP:20260517T010657
CREATED:20151027T093619Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20151119T152104Z
UID:19436-1448618400-1448622000@ibecbarcelona.eu
SUMMARY:PhD Discussions Session: Maria Chiara Biagi and Roger Oria
DESCRIPTION:Nanoscale dielectric characterization of single bacterial cells at microwave frequency\nMaria Chiara Biagi\, Nanoscale Bioelectrical Characterization group\nInformation on the microwave electromagnetic properties of cell suspensions and tissues has already led to important application in therapeutic and diagnostic. In recent years\, a new microscopy technique has appeared\, able to resolve the electromagnetic response at GHz even further down\, at nanoscale spatial resolution: Scanning Microwave Microscope (SMM). Its application to single cells would possibly allow not just to scale down the existing medical and biological techniques\, but would also give rise to a new class of label-free imaging methods based on dielectric contrast. Yet\, the quantification of the intrinsic dielectric properties (i.e. complex permittivity) of non-planar irregular shaped objects like single cells from the standard SMM images remains a challenge\, because the experimental signal is greatly affected by the huge presence of non-local contributions. \nWe developed a methodology to quantify and remove them\, which consequently enables to obtain images related only to the intrinsic dielectric response of the sample. These images are then suitable for a quantitative analysis and\, in combination with 3D finite element numerical calculations\, a map of the complex permittivity of the cell can be obtained.\nWe have applied this procedure to a single bacterial cell (E. coli) and quantified for the first time its complex permittivity at ~19 GHz\, in dry and humid conditions. \n  \nInterplay between integrin expression\, clustering\, and substrate rigidity in cell mechanical response\nRoger Oria\, Cellular and respiratory biomechanics group\nEssential cell functions such as proliferation\, differentiation\, or migration are determined by the rigidity and composition of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Understanding this interaction requires a precise control of ECM mechanical properties and molecular distribution of cell-ECM ligands\, as well as the ability to measure the mechanical forces transmitted at the cell-ECM interface. To address this issue\, we have developed an approach based on polyacrylamide substrates of tunable rigidity decorated with nanometric regular hexagonal patterns of RGD ligands\, which serve as binding sites for single integrins. By using this system\, we have systematically analysed cell response in terms of force transmission\, rearward flow and integrin recruitment after varying (i) gel rigidity\, (ii) spacing and spatial distribution between RGD ligands\, and (iii) integrin expression levels. Our results show that cell response and force generation are critically dependent on all factors. We also demonstrate the counter-intuitive fact that at specific ECM rigidities cells increase force transmission as the spacing between integrins increases from 50 to 100 nm. Our findings indicate that mechanical homeostasis can be tuned by cells using strategies based on integrin expression\, clustering of ECM ligands\, or ECM rigidity\, and that an in-depth understanding of cell mechanical responses requires the consideration of all those factors. \n 
URL:https://ibecbarcelona.eu/event/phd-discussions-session-maria-chiara-and-roger-oria/
CATEGORIES:PhD Discussions Session
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20151127T100000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20151127T110000
DTSTAMP:20260517T010657
CREATED:20151027T093619Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20151027T093619Z
UID:95874-1448618400-1448622000@ibecbarcelona.eu
SUMMARY:PhD Discussions Session: Maria Chiara Biagi and Roger Oria
DESCRIPTION:Nanoscale dielectric characterization of single bacterial cells at microwave frequency\nMaria Chiara Biagi\, Nanoscale Bioelectrical Characterization group\nInformation on the microwave electromagnetic properties of cell suspensions and tissues has already led to important application in therapeutic and diagnostic. In recent years\, a new microscopy technique has appeared\, able to resolve the electromagnetic response at GHz even further down\, at nanoscale spatial resolution: Scanning Microwave Microscope (SMM). Its application to single cells would possibly allow not just to scale down the existing medical and biological techniques\, but would also give rise to a new class of label-free imaging methods based on dielectric contrast. Yet\, the quantification of the intrinsic dielectric properties (i.e. complex permittivity) of non-planar irregular shaped objects like single cells from the standard SMM images remains a challenge\, because the experimental signal is greatly affected by the huge presence of non-local contributions. \nWe developed a methodology to quantify and remove them\, which consequently enables to obtain images related only to the intrinsic dielectric response of the sample. These images are then suitable for a quantitative analysis and\, in combination with 3D finite element numerical calculations\, a map of the complex permittivity of the cell can be obtained.\nWe have applied this procedure to a single bacterial cell (E. coli) and quantified for the first time its complex permittivity at ~19 GHz\, in dry and humid conditions. \n  \nInterplay between integrin expression\, clustering\, and substrate rigidity in cell mechanical response\nRoger Oria\, Cellular and respiratory biomechanics group\nEssential cell functions such as proliferation\, differentiation\, or migration are determined by the rigidity and composition of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Understanding this interaction requires a precise control of ECM mechanical properties and molecular distribution of cell-ECM ligands\, as well as the ability to measure the mechanical forces transmitted at the cell-ECM interface. To address this issue\, we have developed an approach based on polyacrylamide substrates of tunable rigidity decorated with nanometric regular hexagonal patterns of RGD ligands\, which serve as binding sites for single integrins. By using this system\, we have systematically analysed cell response in terms of force transmission\, rearward flow and integrin recruitment after varying (i) gel rigidity\, (ii) spacing and spatial distribution between RGD ligands\, and (iii) integrin expression levels. Our results show that cell response and force generation are critically dependent on all factors. We also demonstrate the counter-intuitive fact that at specific ECM rigidities cells increase force transmission as the spacing between integrins increases from 50 to 100 nm. Our findings indicate that mechanical homeostasis can be tuned by cells using strategies based on integrin expression\, clustering of ECM ligands\, or ECM rigidity\, and that an in-depth understanding of cell mechanical responses requires the consideration of all those factors. \n 
URL:https://ibecbarcelona.eu/event/phd-discussions-session-maria-chiara-and-roger-oria-2/
CATEGORIES:PhD Discussions Session
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20150710T100000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20150710T110000
DTSTAMP:20260517T010657
CREATED:20150527T073448Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20150527T073448Z
UID:16868-1436522400-1436526000@ibecbarcelona.eu
SUMMARY:PhD Discussions Session: Verónica Hortigüela & Anna Crespo
DESCRIPTION:Developing a platform for receptor clustering studies\nVerónica Hortigüela\, Biomimetic systems for cell engineering group\nReceptors are signaling units that usually require interactions and associations with other molecules in complexes to trigger a signaling pathway. This process is known as receptor clustering and comes typically along with a simultaneous ligand clustering underneath the cell membrane. We have developed a strategy to precisely control the ligand distribution on a substrate at the nanoscale to study in detail receptor clustering processes. Herein we present a tunable platform based on self-assembled di-block copolymers that tend to segregate into nanostructures. Di-block copolymers are confined to a thin film providing a template for ligand patterning.  \n  \nRibonucleotide Reductase anaerobic enzymes are essential for biofilm formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa\nAnna Crespo\, Bacterial infections: antimicrobial therapies group\nMost chronic infections in humans are caused by communities of microorganisms living in organized structures\, known as biofilms. Biofilm-related infections\, such as pneumonia (in patients suffering for cystic fibrosis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease –COPD-) and catheter-associated infections\, affect millions of people in the developed world. \nCell clusters in biofilms are characterized by presenting\, in its extracellular polymeric matrix\, gradients of oxygen\, nutrients and metabolic waste products. The so-formed chemical heterogeneity (e.g.\, the presence of anoxic areas) leads to the appearance of different metabolic activities. \nPseudomonas aeruginosa has been used as a model bacterium for biofilm research; it causes biofilm-related chronic infections and presents high metabolic versatility\, together with an extreme antibiotic resistance. \nIn this work we have studied P. aeruginosa\, focusing in an essential enzyme for its growth\, Ribonucleotide Reductase (RNR). Ribonucleotide Reductases catalyse the reduction of ribonucleotides (NTPs) to deoxyribonucleotides (dNTPs)\, thereby providing the building blocks for DNA synthesis. There are three different RNR classes\, named class I\, class II and class III\, which are\, respectively\, oxygen-dependent\, oxygen-independent and oxygen-sensitive. The last two ones\, essential for anaerobic growth in Pseudomonas aeruginosa\, have been proved to be necessary for biofilm formation\, and therefore putative targets for new therapies against P. aeruginosa chronic infections.
URL:https://ibecbarcelona.eu/event/phd-discussions-session-veronica-hortiguela-anna-crespo/
CATEGORIES:PhD Discussions Session
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20150710T100000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20150710T110000
DTSTAMP:20260517T010657
CREATED:20150527T073448Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20150527T073448Z
UID:95855-1436522400-1436526000@ibecbarcelona.eu
SUMMARY:PhD Discussions Session: Verónica Hortigüela & Anna Crespo
DESCRIPTION:Developing a platform for receptor clustering studies\nVerónica Hortigüela\, Biomimetic systems for cell engineering group\nReceptors are signaling units that usually require interactions and associations with other molecules in complexes to trigger a signaling pathway. This process is known as receptor clustering and comes typically along with a simultaneous ligand clustering underneath the cell membrane. We have developed a strategy to precisely control the ligand distribution on a substrate at the nanoscale to study in detail receptor clustering processes. Herein we present a tunable platform based on self-assembled di-block copolymers that tend to segregate into nanostructures. Di-block copolymers are confined to a thin film providing a template for ligand patterning.  \n  \nRibonucleotide Reductase anaerobic enzymes are essential for biofilm formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa\nAnna Crespo\, Bacterial infections: antimicrobial therapies group\nMost chronic infections in humans are caused by communities of microorganisms living in organized structures\, known as biofilms. Biofilm-related infections\, such as pneumonia (in patients suffering for cystic fibrosis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease –COPD-) and catheter-associated infections\, affect millions of people in the developed world. \nCell clusters in biofilms are characterized by presenting\, in its extracellular polymeric matrix\, gradients of oxygen\, nutrients and metabolic waste products. The so-formed chemical heterogeneity (e.g.\, the presence of anoxic areas) leads to the appearance of different metabolic activities. \nPseudomonas aeruginosa has been used as a model bacterium for biofilm research; it causes biofilm-related chronic infections and presents high metabolic versatility\, together with an extreme antibiotic resistance. \nIn this work we have studied P. aeruginosa\, focusing in an essential enzyme for its growth\, Ribonucleotide Reductase (RNR). Ribonucleotide Reductases catalyse the reduction of ribonucleotides (NTPs) to deoxyribonucleotides (dNTPs)\, thereby providing the building blocks for DNA synthesis. There are three different RNR classes\, named class I\, class II and class III\, which are\, respectively\, oxygen-dependent\, oxygen-independent and oxygen-sensitive. The last two ones\, essential for anaerobic growth in Pseudomonas aeruginosa\, have been proved to be necessary for biofilm formation\, and therefore putative targets for new therapies against P. aeruginosa chronic infections.
URL:https://ibecbarcelona.eu/event/phd-discussions-session-veronica-hortiguela-anna-crespo-2/
CATEGORIES:PhD Discussions Session
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20150529T100000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20150529T110000
DTSTAMP:20260517T010657
CREATED:20150527T072015Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20150527T072015Z
UID:16865-1432893600-1432897200@ibecbarcelona.eu
SUMMARY:PhD Discussions Sessions: Lorena de Oñate & Anita Kosmalska
DESCRIPTION:Research on cardiac differentiation from pluripotent stem cells: how to get beating cells in a dish\nLorena de Oñate\, Pluripotent stem cells and activation of endogenous tissue programs for organ regeneration group\nProbably\, the gain in organ complexity and cell function has led to a decrease in healing capacities in the adult mammalian heart. In an effort to generate new venues for the generation of functional cardiac cells we have explored the possibility to manipulate cell fate and plasticity making use of different cellular systems. First\, taking advantage of pluripotent stem cells we have defined chemically based protocols in order to generate cardiac cells from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC). Second\, by a cell conversion approach\, we have been able to produce cardiomyocyte-like cells from human fibroblasts by overexpression of specific lineage transcription factors. In parallel\, to overcome several drawbacks related to both processes (i.e: purity of final cell populations)\, we have efficiently developed a reporter cell line for the cardiac gene alpha Myosin Heavy Chain (MYH6) by both TALEN and CRISPR/CAS9 genome editing approaches that will help us to define accurate protocols for cardiac differentiation\, and more importantly\, to underscore the molecular and cellular events driving human cardiomyocyte differentiation. \n  \nPhysical principles of membrane remodelling during cell mechanoadaptation\nAnita Kosmalska\, Cellular and respiratory biomechanic group\nBiological processes in any physiological environment involve changes in cell shape\, which must be accommodated by their physical envelope – the bilayer membrane. However\, the fundamental biophysical principles by which the cell membrane allows for and responds to shape changes remain unclear. Here we show that the 3D remodelling of the membrane in response to a broad diversity of physiological perturbations can be explained by a purely mechanical process. This process is passive\, local\, almost instantaneous\, prior to any active remodelling\, and generates different types of membrane invaginations that can repeatedly store and release large fractions of the cell membrane. We further demonstrate that the shape of those invaginations is determined by the minimum elastic and adhesive energy required to store both membrane area and liquid volume at the cell-substrate interface. Once formed\, cells reabsorb the invaginations through an active process with duration of the order of minutes.
URL:https://ibecbarcelona.eu/event/phd-discussions-sessions-lorena-de-onate-anita-kosmalska/
CATEGORIES:PhD Discussions Session
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20150529T100000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20150529T110000
DTSTAMP:20260517T010657
CREATED:20150527T072015Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20150527T072015Z
UID:95853-1432893600-1432897200@ibecbarcelona.eu
SUMMARY:PhD Discussions Sessions: Lorena de Oñate & Anita Kosmalska
DESCRIPTION:Research on cardiac differentiation from pluripotent stem cells: how to get beating cells in a dish\nLorena de Oñate\, Pluripotent stem cells and activation of endogenous tissue programs for organ regeneration group\nProbably\, the gain in organ complexity and cell function has led to a decrease in healing capacities in the adult mammalian heart. In an effort to generate new venues for the generation of functional cardiac cells we have explored the possibility to manipulate cell fate and plasticity making use of different cellular systems. First\, taking advantage of pluripotent stem cells we have defined chemically based protocols in order to generate cardiac cells from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC). Second\, by a cell conversion approach\, we have been able to produce cardiomyocyte-like cells from human fibroblasts by overexpression of specific lineage transcription factors. In parallel\, to overcome several drawbacks related to both processes (i.e: purity of final cell populations)\, we have efficiently developed a reporter cell line for the cardiac gene alpha Myosin Heavy Chain (MYH6) by both TALEN and CRISPR/CAS9 genome editing approaches that will help us to define accurate protocols for cardiac differentiation\, and more importantly\, to underscore the molecular and cellular events driving human cardiomyocyte differentiation. \n  \nPhysical principles of membrane remodelling during cell mechanoadaptation\nAnita Kosmalska\, Cellular and respiratory biomechanic group\nBiological processes in any physiological environment involve changes in cell shape\, which must be accommodated by their physical envelope – the bilayer membrane. However\, the fundamental biophysical principles by which the cell membrane allows for and responds to shape changes remain unclear. Here we show that the 3D remodelling of the membrane in response to a broad diversity of physiological perturbations can be explained by a purely mechanical process. This process is passive\, local\, almost instantaneous\, prior to any active remodelling\, and generates different types of membrane invaginations that can repeatedly store and release large fractions of the cell membrane. We further demonstrate that the shape of those invaginations is determined by the minimum elastic and adhesive energy required to store both membrane area and liquid volume at the cell-substrate interface. Once formed\, cells reabsorb the invaginations through an active process with duration of the order of minutes.
URL:https://ibecbarcelona.eu/event/phd-discussions-sessions-lorena-de-onate-anita-kosmalska-2/
CATEGORIES:PhD Discussions Session
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20150327T100000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20150327T110000
DTSTAMP:20260517T010657
CREATED:20150119T113556Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20150319T143821Z
UID:11717-1427450400-1427454000@ibecbarcelona.eu
SUMMARY:PhD Discussion Sessions: Claudia di Guglielmo and Oiane Urra
DESCRIPTION:Biotechnological approaches to cardiac differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells\nClaudia di Guglielmo\, Control of stem cell potency group\nHeart diseases are a major cause of death and disability in developed countries. Human induced pluripotent stem cells can be differentiated into cardiomyocytes\, representing a valid tool to be used as a platform for research and clinical applications in regenerative medicine. However\, current differentiation protocols have disadvantages related to insufficient purity and lack of scalability. We applied biotechnological strategies such as the use of transgenic cell lines and tissue engineering devices to overcome those drawbacks. This approach offers the possibility to dissect the mechanisms underlying cardiac differentiation\, as well as providing valuable in vitro systems for drug screening of patient-specific heart muscle cells. \n  \nMuscle Synergy analysis as a tool to improve stroke rehabilitation\nOiane Urra\, Biomedical signal processing and interpretation group\nStroke is the first cause of adult disability with upper-limb hemiparesis being the most frequent dysfunction. After rehabilitation\, one third of the patients result permanently disabled. Consequently\, intensive research aiming to develop novel therapies promoting neuroplasticity are being carried out to allow rehabilitation of these patients. In this thesis\, we propose to combine novel neurorehabilitation and biofeedback strategies and to evaluate its therapeutic effect from a physiological (changes at muscular and neuroplastic level)\, kinematic and functional perspective with the objective of guiding the design of more successful and cost-effective therapies.
URL:https://ibecbarcelona.eu/event/phd-discussion-sessions-claudia-di-guglielmo-and-oiane-urra/
CATEGORIES:PhD Discussions Session
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20150327T100000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20150327T110000
DTSTAMP:20260517T010657
CREATED:20150119T113556Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20150119T113556Z
UID:95836-1427450400-1427454000@ibecbarcelona.eu
SUMMARY:PhD Discussion Sessions: Claudia di Guglielmo and Oiane Urra
DESCRIPTION:Biotechnological approaches to cardiac differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells\nClaudia di Guglielmo\, Control of stem cell potency group\nHeart diseases are a major cause of death and disability in developed countries. Human induced pluripotent stem cells can be differentiated into cardiomyocytes\, representing a valid tool to be used as a platform for research and clinical applications in regenerative medicine. However\, current differentiation protocols have disadvantages related to insufficient purity and lack of scalability. We applied biotechnological strategies such as the use of transgenic cell lines and tissue engineering devices to overcome those drawbacks. This approach offers the possibility to dissect the mechanisms underlying cardiac differentiation\, as well as providing valuable in vitro systems for drug screening of patient-specific heart muscle cells. \n  \nMuscle Synergy analysis as a tool to improve stroke rehabilitation\nOiane Urra\, Biomedical signal processing and interpretation group\nStroke is the first cause of adult disability with upper-limb hemiparesis being the most frequent dysfunction. After rehabilitation\, one third of the patients result permanently disabled. Consequently\, intensive research aiming to develop novel therapies promoting neuroplasticity are being carried out to allow rehabilitation of these patients. In this thesis\, we propose to combine novel neurorehabilitation and biofeedback strategies and to evaluate its therapeutic effect from a physiological (changes at muscular and neuroplastic level)\, kinematic and functional perspective with the objective of guiding the design of more successful and cost-effective therapies.
URL:https://ibecbarcelona.eu/event/phd-discussion-sessions-claudia-di-guglielmo-and-oiane-urra-2/
CATEGORIES:PhD Discussions Session
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20150227T100000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20150227T110000
DTSTAMP:20260517T010657
CREATED:20150119T112620Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20150218T142126Z
UID:11716-1425031200-1425034800@ibecbarcelona.eu
SUMMARY:PhD Discussion Sessions: Silvia Pittolo and Noelia Campillo
DESCRIPTION:Alloswitch: an allosteric modulator for the control of a G protein-coupled receptor with light\nSilvia Pittolo\, Nanoprobes and nanoswitches group\nControlling drug activity with light offers the possibility of enhancing pharmacological selectivity with spatial and temporal regulation\, thus enabling highly localized therapeutic effects and precise dosing patterns. We have developed and characterized what is to our knowledge the first photoswitchable allosteric modulator of a G protein–coupled receptor. Alloswitch-1 is selective for the metabotropic glutamate receptor mGlu5 and enables the optical control of endogenous mGlu5 receptors. \n  \nEffect of cyclic hypoxia mimicking obstructive sleep apnea on the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor\nNoelia Campillo\, Cellular and respiratory biomechanics group\nIntermittent hypoxia (IH)\, the process whereby tissues are recurrently subjected to episodes of low oxygen tension\, is commonly associated with several pathological conditions\, such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) or cancer. Increasing evidence suggests that the cyclic frequency of IH is directly related to the emergence of OSA-associated morbidities. Although HIF-1 has been identified as the critical factor regulating cell responses to hypoxia\, the molecular mechanisms supporting the pathological effects of IH remain poorly understood. This is partly due to the lack of experimental systems to study the in vitro consequences of IH patterns realistically mimicking OSA. Here we present a simple polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) chip aimed to apply high-frequency IH patterns and cyclic stretch simulating OSA at the cell level. The device was used to study the effect of different IH frequencies on HIF-1 expression.
URL:https://ibecbarcelona.eu/event/phd-discussion-sessions-silvia-pittolo-and-noelia-campillo/
CATEGORIES:PhD Discussions Session
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20150227T100000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Madrid:20150227T110000
DTSTAMP:20260517T010657
CREATED:20150119T112620Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20150119T112620Z
UID:95835-1425031200-1425034800@ibecbarcelona.eu
SUMMARY:PhD Discussion Sessions: Silvia Pittolo and Noelia Campillo
DESCRIPTION:Alloswitch: an allosteric modulator for the control of a G protein-coupled receptor with light\nSilvia Pittolo\, Nanoprobes and nanoswitches group\nControlling drug activity with light offers the possibility of enhancing pharmacological selectivity with spatial and temporal regulation\, thus enabling highly localized therapeutic effects and precise dosing patterns. We have developed and characterized what is to our knowledge the first photoswitchable allosteric modulator of a G protein–coupled receptor. Alloswitch-1 is selective for the metabotropic glutamate receptor mGlu5 and enables the optical control of endogenous mGlu5 receptors. \n  \nEffect of cyclic hypoxia mimicking obstructive sleep apnea on the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor\nNoelia Campillo\, Cellular and respiratory biomechanics group\nIntermittent hypoxia (IH)\, the process whereby tissues are recurrently subjected to episodes of low oxygen tension\, is commonly associated with several pathological conditions\, such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) or cancer. Increasing evidence suggests that the cyclic frequency of IH is directly related to the emergence of OSA-associated morbidities. Although HIF-1 has been identified as the critical factor regulating cell responses to hypoxia\, the molecular mechanisms supporting the pathological effects of IH remain poorly understood. This is partly due to the lack of experimental systems to study the in vitro consequences of IH patterns realistically mimicking OSA. Here we present a simple polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) chip aimed to apply high-frequency IH patterns and cyclic stretch simulating OSA at the cell level. The device was used to study the effect of different IH frequencies on HIF-1 expression.
URL:https://ibecbarcelona.eu/event/phd-discussion-sessions-silvia-pittolo-and-noelia-campillo-2/
CATEGORIES:PhD Discussions Session
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR