15 research outputs found
Synthetic virions reveal fatty acid-coupled adaptive immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein
Kartezio: Evolutionary Design of Explainable Pipelines for Biomedical Image Analysis
An unresolved issue in contemporary biomedicine is the overwhelming number
and diversity of complex images that require annotation, analysis and
interpretation. Recent advances in Deep Learning have revolutionized the field
of computer vision, creating algorithms that compete with human experts in
image segmentation tasks. Crucially however, these frameworks require large
human-annotated datasets for training and the resulting models are difficult to
interpret. In this study, we introduce Kartezio, a modular Cartesian Genetic
Programming based computational strategy that generates transparent and easily
interpretable image processing pipelines by iteratively assembling and
parameterizing computer vision functions. The pipelines thus generated exhibit
comparable precision to state-of-the-art Deep Learning approaches on instance
segmentation tasks, while requiring drastically smaller training datasets, a
feature which confers tremendous flexibility, speed, and functionality to this
approach. We also deployed Kartezio to solve semantic and instance segmentation
problems in four real-world Use Cases, and showcase its utility in imaging
contexts ranging from high-resolution microscopy to clinical pathology. By
successfully implementing Kartezio on a portfolio of images ranging from
subcellular structures to tumoral tissue, we demonstrated the flexibility,
robustness and practical utility of this fully explicable evolutionary designer
for semantic and instance segmentation.Comment: 36 pages, 6 main Figures. The Extended Data Movie is available at the
following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r74gdzb6hdA. The source code
is available on Github: https://github.com/KevinCortacero/Kartezi
Structural insights in cell-type specific evolution of intra-host diversity by SARS-CoV-2
As the global burden of SARS-CoV-2 infections escalates, so does the evolution of viral variants with increased transmissibility and pathology. In addition to this entrenched diversity, RNA viruses can also display genetic diversity within single infected hosts with co-existing viral variants evolving differently in distinct cell types. The BriSÎ variant, originally identified as a viral subpopulation from SARS-CoV-2 isolate hCoV-19/England/02/2020, comprises in the spike an eight amino-acid deletion encompassing a furin recognition motif and S1/S2 cleavage site. We elucidate the structure, function and molecular dynamics of this spike providing mechanistic insight into how the deletion correlates to viral cell tropism, ACE2 receptor binding and infectivity of this SARS-CoV-2 variant. Our results reveal long-range allosteric communication between functional domains that differ in the wild-type and the deletion variant and support a view of SARS-CoV-2 probing multiple evolutionary trajectories in distinct cell types within the same infected host
Building a community to engineer synthetic cells and organelles from the bottom-up
Employing concepts from physics, chemistry and bioengineering, 'learning-by-building' approaches are becoming increasingly popular in the life sciences, especially with researchers who are attempting to engineer cellular life from scratch. The SynCell2020/21 conference brought together researchers from different disciplines to highlight progress in this field, including areas where synthetic cells are having socioeconomic and technological impact. Conference participants also identified the challenges involved in designing, manipulating and creating synthetic cells with hierarchical organization and function. A key conclusion is the need to build an international and interdisciplinary research community through enhanced communication, resource-sharing, and educational initiatives
Bottom-up Assembly of Functional Extracellular Vesicles â Implications for Synthetic Biology and Biomedical Applications
Formation of lipid-based compartments is a distinguishing feature of eukaryotic
life forms. These compartments play a crucial role in orchestrating independent
and self-contained metabolic, signalling or synthesis processes. Moreover, cellderived
lipid compartments, like extracellular vesicles (EVs), have been shown to be
essential for intercellular signalling and are involved in a wide variety of disease states.
Although attaining a holistic understanding of EV-based communication is a compelling
goal, the extensive molecular and structural complexity of these vesicles as well as a lack
of reliable EV isolation techniques, have impaired detailed mechanistic insights. Inspired
by bottom-up synthetic biology principles, the central goal of my interdisciplinary
research was the development of a bio-inspired EV model system, which serves as a
platform to study EV-based intercellular signalling and empowers novel EV-inspired
therapeutics.
In this thesis, I present two major methodologies developed for the controlled
high-throughput assembly of synthetic vesicles. First, I describe a droplet-based
microfluidic approach for the production of giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) with wellcontrolled
biophysical and biochemical properties. I report on systematic investigations
of GUV interactions with living cells and present concepts on how fine-tuning of the
vesicles surface characteristics can be applied for targeted cellular delivery of
macromolecular cargos. Moreover, I show how these vesicles can be reconceptualised as
synthetic organelles, functioning within living cells and providing them with synthetic
functionalities. Based on these fundamental characterizations, in the second part of my
thesis, I present a complementary and quantitative approach for the sequential bottom-up
assembly of fully synthetic EVs (fsEVs). To exemplify the application of fsEVs for new
therapeutic concepts, I show that they exert analogous functionalities to naturally
occurring wound healing EVs. Furthermore, by combining the fsEV technology with
whole-transcriptome analysis, I systematically decode the synergistic functionalities
between individual EV components. This approach enabled me to perform an analytical
dissection of the associated EV signalling processes mediated by tetraspanin proteins.
Bioinspired and biocompatible synthetic compartments with precisely controllable
biophysical and biochemical properties are desirable tools for a wide range of living and
synthetic cells research. This study makes it tempting to view EV-like compartments in a broader perspective. For example, they have great application potential as on-demand
drug delivery systems, paving the way for hitherto impossible approaches towards
administration of advanced cargos such as microparticles, viruses or synthetic organelles.
Moreover, I anticipate that the highly controlled assembly of fsEVs will provide a robust
framework for innovative therapeutic applications of bottom-up assembled synthetic
biological modules and will additionally allow for new insights into fundamental EVrelated
principles that govern cellular communication
Vesicle Induced Receptor Sequestration: Mechanisms behind Extracellular Vesicle-Based Protein Signaling
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are fundamental for proper physiological functioning of multicellular organisms. By shuttling nucleic acids and proteins between cells, EVs regulate a plethora of cellular processes, especially those involved in immune signalling. However, the mechanistic understanding concerning the biophysical principles underlying EVâbased communication is still incomplete. Towards holistic understanding, particular mechanisms explaining why and when cells apply EVâbased communication and how proteinâbased signalling is promoted by EV surfaces are sought. Here, the authors study vesicleâinduced receptor sequestration (VIRS) as a universal mechanism augmenting the signalling potency of proteins presented on EVâmembranes. By bottomâup reconstitution of synthetic EVs, the authors show that immobilization of the receptor ligands FasL and RANK on EVâlike vesicles, increases their signalling potential by more than 100âfold compared to their soluble forms. Moreover, the authors perform diffusion simulations within immunological synapses to compare receptor activation between soluble and EVâpresented proteins. By this the authors propose vesicleâtriggered local clustering of membrane receptors as the principle structural mechanism underlying EVâbased protein presentation. The authors conclude that EVs act as extracellular templates promoting the local aggregation of membrane receptors at the EV contact site, thereby fostering interâprotein interactions. The results uncover a potentially universal mechanism explaining the unique structural profit of EVâbased intercellular signalling
SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein suppresses CTL-mediated killing by inhibiting immune synapse assembly
CTL-mediated killing of virally infected or malignant cells is orchestrated at the immune synapse (IS). We hypothesized that SARS-CoV-2 may target lytic IS assembly to escape elimination. We show that human CD8+ T cells upregulate the expression of ACE2, the Spike receptor, during differentiation to CTLs. CTL preincubation with the Wuhan or Omicron Spike variants inhibits IS assembly and function, as shown by defective synaptic accumulation of TCRs and tyrosine phosphoproteins as well as defective centrosome and lytic granule polarization to the IS, resulting in impaired target cell killing and cytokine production. These defects were reversed by anti-Spike antibodies interfering with ACE2 binding and reproduced by ACE2 engagement by angiotensin II or anti-ACE2 antibodies, but not by the ACE2 product Ang (1-7). IS defects were also observed ex vivo in CTLs from COVID-19 patients. These results highlight a new strategy of immune evasion by SARS-CoV-2 based on the Spike-dependent, ACE2-mediated targeting of the lytic IS to prevent elimination of infected cells
Building a community to engineer synthetic cells and organelles from the bottom-up
Employing concepts from physics, chemistry and bioengineering, 'learning-by-building' approaches are becoming increasingly popular in the life sciences, especially with researchers who are attempting to engineer cellular life from scratch. The SynCell2020/21 conference brought together researchers from different disciplines to highlight progress in this field, including areas where synthetic cells are having socioeconomic and technological impact. Conference participants also identified the challenges involved in designing, manipulating and creating synthetic cells with hierarchical organization and function. A key conclusion is the need to build an international and interdisciplinary research community through enhanced communication, resource-sharing, and educational initiatives.BN/Marileen Dogterom La