Phagocytosis across Kingdoms Symposium

Phagocytosis is a fundamental cellular process that has been conserved across evolution, playing crucial roles in immunity, tissue homeostasis, and host-pathogen interactions. This symposium will explore the diversity and conservation of phagocytic mechanisms across different biological kingdoms, from the unicellular amebae to complex organisms like Drosophila, zebrafish, and mammals. By bringing together experts in these model systems, we aim to uncover common principles, evolutionary adaptations, and novel insights into the role of phagocytosis in health and disease.

Program

• 14h        Symposium introduction by Bruno Lemaitre
• 14h05    Estee Kurant (University of Haifa) Glial phagocytosis in developing and diseased brain
• 14h30    Francesca Peri (University of Zurich) In the belly of the microglia: neuronal engulfment and digestion
• 14h55    Marine Van Campenhoudt (EPFL, McCabe lab) The Neverending Phagocytic Signal: Motor Circuits Refinement Gone Wrong in ALS
• 15h10    Enno Bockelmann (University of Zurich, Peri lab) Tag Teaming the Threat: Radial glia and microglia collaborate to remove dying neurons during brain development
• 15h25    Laura Filomena Comi (University of Zurich, Hajnal lab) EGFR signaling: a conserved step in apoptotic cell recognition and elimination

• 16h10    Pierre Cosson (University of Geneva) How phagocytes kill bacteria: what the study of Dictyostelium tells us
• 16h35    Florence Niedergang (Institut Cochin, Paris) Mechanisms of successful phagocytosis: lessons from human pathogens
• 17h00    Tania Distler (EPFL, Persat lab) How bacterial motility and surface colonization modulate Pseudomonas aeruginosa’s susceptibility to phagocytosis
• 17h15    Lucas Ceseti (University of Geneva, Soldati lab) Xanthomonas citri employs diverse strategies to evade predation by amoebae
• 17h30    Eric Giannoni (CHUV) Host-pathogen interactions in neonatal sepsis: the importance of phagocytosis
• 17h45    Prince Sah (EPFL, Lemaitre lab) NimB2 Enhances Staphylococcus aureus Recognition by Macrophages in Drosophila
• 18h        End of symposium