EPFL BioE Talks SERIES "Functional Single-Cell Deep Phenotyping - The ‘DropMap’ Platform and Its Use for High-Resolution Immune Monitoring"
Event details
| Date | 12.10.2020 |
| Hour | 16:00 › 16:30 |
| Speaker | Prof. Klaus Eyer, ETH Zurich (ZH) |
| Location | |
| Category | Conferences - Seminars |
WEEKLY EPFL BIOE TALKS SERIES
(note that this talk is number one of a double-feature seminar - see details of the second talk here)
Abstract:
Individual cells are the functional units within any immune response, and their dynamic frequencies, functionalities and degrees of activity shape the response and define its outcome. Hence, the quantitative measurement of cellular functionality with sufficient dynamic and analytical resolution is of upmost importance to understand the induced immune reaction, to predict its outcome and to evaluate the efficacy of interventions such as vaccination. In order to assess immune functionalities quantitatively, we have developed a simple microfluidic system, ‘DropMap’, in which single cells are compartmentalized in tens of thousands of 50-pL droplets, and analyzed in two-dimensional droplet arrays using a fluorescence relocation-based immunoassay. Using DropMap, we characterize the functionality and activity of a range of different immune cells, from neutrophils to macrophages, from T cells to antibody-secreting cells, in a variety of induced disturbances. One of our research focus lies on vaccination and the characterization, understanding and exploitation of vaccine-mediated protection. Here, we have specialized on the analysis of individual antibody-secreting cells and their antibodies, allowing us to characterize the induced and present antibody repertoire with single antibody resolution and high analytical resolution. In this presentation, I will explain the technology behind DropMap and show some of its applications within our research projects. In particular, I want to focus on how single-antibody resolution is used to study immunization; and how such a system can be used to characterize the antibody repertoire. In the vision of our laboratory, deciphering the dynamic processes at the single-cell level is critical to describe and understand the fundamental mechanisms underlying immunity, to develop new and improved strategies for vaccination and cancer immunotherapy, and to diagnose and treat inflammatory, autoimmune and infectious diseases efficiently.
Bio:
Klaus Eyer finished his studies in Pharmaceutical Sciences at ETH Zurich in 2010 with the federal diploma and ETH medal. In 2014, he received his medaled doctoral degree from the laboratory of Prof. Dittrich at the Institute of Organic Chemistry at ETH Zurich. He left Switzerland thereafter and started as a Postdoctoral fellow in the groups of Prof. Bibette and Prof. Griffiths at the ESPCI in Paris. In 2016, he was awarded a Branco-Weiss-Fellowship, and continued as a junior group leader at ESPCI and associated researcher at Institute Pasteur in Paris. He received an ERC starting-grant in 2018, and started his current position as a non-tenure track assistant professor at the Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, ETH Zürich, in August 2019. His group focuses on developing novel analytical strategies to understand the functionalities of individual cells in the context of complex cellular systems, such as the immune system and its responses in health and disease. The research of his group currently focuses on gathering knowledge to advance the understanding of vaccine-mediated protection and finding novel diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic strategies in various immune-related diseases and syndromes.
Zoom link (with registration) for attending remotely: https://go.epfl.ch/EPFLBioETalks
IMPORTANT NOTICE: due to restrictions resulting from the ongoing Covid-19 situation, this seminar can be followed in the room by at most 23 people, who must wear a face mask at all times.
(note that this talk is number one of a double-feature seminar - see details of the second talk here)
Abstract:
Individual cells are the functional units within any immune response, and their dynamic frequencies, functionalities and degrees of activity shape the response and define its outcome. Hence, the quantitative measurement of cellular functionality with sufficient dynamic and analytical resolution is of upmost importance to understand the induced immune reaction, to predict its outcome and to evaluate the efficacy of interventions such as vaccination. In order to assess immune functionalities quantitatively, we have developed a simple microfluidic system, ‘DropMap’, in which single cells are compartmentalized in tens of thousands of 50-pL droplets, and analyzed in two-dimensional droplet arrays using a fluorescence relocation-based immunoassay. Using DropMap, we characterize the functionality and activity of a range of different immune cells, from neutrophils to macrophages, from T cells to antibody-secreting cells, in a variety of induced disturbances. One of our research focus lies on vaccination and the characterization, understanding and exploitation of vaccine-mediated protection. Here, we have specialized on the analysis of individual antibody-secreting cells and their antibodies, allowing us to characterize the induced and present antibody repertoire with single antibody resolution and high analytical resolution. In this presentation, I will explain the technology behind DropMap and show some of its applications within our research projects. In particular, I want to focus on how single-antibody resolution is used to study immunization; and how such a system can be used to characterize the antibody repertoire. In the vision of our laboratory, deciphering the dynamic processes at the single-cell level is critical to describe and understand the fundamental mechanisms underlying immunity, to develop new and improved strategies for vaccination and cancer immunotherapy, and to diagnose and treat inflammatory, autoimmune and infectious diseases efficiently.
Bio:
Klaus Eyer finished his studies in Pharmaceutical Sciences at ETH Zurich in 2010 with the federal diploma and ETH medal. In 2014, he received his medaled doctoral degree from the laboratory of Prof. Dittrich at the Institute of Organic Chemistry at ETH Zurich. He left Switzerland thereafter and started as a Postdoctoral fellow in the groups of Prof. Bibette and Prof. Griffiths at the ESPCI in Paris. In 2016, he was awarded a Branco-Weiss-Fellowship, and continued as a junior group leader at ESPCI and associated researcher at Institute Pasteur in Paris. He received an ERC starting-grant in 2018, and started his current position as a non-tenure track assistant professor at the Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, ETH Zürich, in August 2019. His group focuses on developing novel analytical strategies to understand the functionalities of individual cells in the context of complex cellular systems, such as the immune system and its responses in health and disease. The research of his group currently focuses on gathering knowledge to advance the understanding of vaccine-mediated protection and finding novel diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic strategies in various immune-related diseases and syndromes.
Zoom link (with registration) for attending remotely: https://go.epfl.ch/EPFLBioETalks
IMPORTANT NOTICE: due to restrictions resulting from the ongoing Covid-19 situation, this seminar can be followed in the room by at most 23 people, who must wear a face mask at all times.
Practical information
- Informed public
- Registration required
Organizer
Contact
- Institute of Bioengineering (IBI), Dietrich REINHARD