Advanced Research Fellowship: Linking the physical and biological sciences to study cell to cell interactions
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Sheffield
Department Name: Chemical & Biological Engineering
Abstract
Cellular interactions are fundamental to all biological processes. Understanding of cell-cell interactions, with the ultimate vision of harnessing this new knowledge for future engineering of bioprocesses, crosses medical, process engineering and environmental disciplines. The observation of cell-cell interactions is not a new phenomenon. However, despite the prevalence and significance of cell-cell interaction in bio-engineering systems, little is understood about how the processes at the molecular level (i.e. the science approach) connect to macro scale characteristics (i.e. the engineering problem. In order to understand, and ultimately engineer and model the process of cell-cell interactions, a combined approach that concurrently addresses the key (and interdependent) (process) engineering, biological and biochemical questions surrounding cell-cell interactions is needed. The development of such an integrated framework is the core philosophy of this fellowship. With my expertise, and the opportunity of this fellowship, I am uniquely placed to bring skills from both the physical/chemical engineering and biological sciences to bear on this bio-engineering issue. A core strength of this fellowship, is my ability to combine biological '-omic' techniques with engineering and colloidal investigations to link biological and physical processes that govern cell to cell interactions Using model bacterial systems (E.coli and B.cereus), I will examine how external drivers (e.g. cell to cell communication) influence cell surface characteristics and ultimately cell to cell interaction. I will extend this study into the archaeal and eukaryotic systems to gain a more holistic view of cell to cell interactions. This fellowhsip is timely, as it will open up new research opportunities to establish international networks with research groups specialising in individual key aspects of cell-cell interactions. This will provide excellent opportunities to apply this integrated approach to new cellular systems. It is also timely because, with the continued development in the biological sciences in relating gene expression to protein function, it is now possible to start relating biological function with specific physical cell characteristics and engineering relevance. The knowledge developed in this fellowship will, as a result, provide the fundamental understanding necessary to unravel the interconnected engineering, biological and physical processes in studying cell to cell interactions, and ultimately lead to innovative ways to manage the processes.
People |
ORCID iD |
Catherine Biggs (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Koerdt A
(2011)
Macromolecular fingerprinting of sulfolobus species in biofilm: a transcriptomic and proteomic approach combined with spectroscopic analysis.
in Journal of proteome research
Liaqat I
(2008)
Investigating the effect of patulin, penicillic acid and EDTA on biofilm formation of isolates from dental unit water lines.
in Applied microbiology and biotechnology
Mukherjee J
(2012)
Using a multi-faceted approach to determine the changes in bacterial cell surface properties influenced by a biofilm lifestyle.
in Biofouling
Mukherjee J
(2011)
Quantitative protein expression and cell surface characteristics of Escherichia coli MG1655 biofilms
in PROTEOMICS
Nguyen V
(2016)
Physicochemical analysis of initial adhesion and biofilm formation of Methanosarcina barkeri on polymer support material.
in Colloids and surfaces. B, Biointerfaces
Peter S
(2013)
Comparative study of in vitro expansion of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells.
in Biotechnology letters
Peter S
(2012)
Proteomic analysis of the impact of static culturing on the expansion of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.
in Biotechnology letters
Raut M
(2019)
Alcoholic fermentation of thermochemical and biological hydrolysates derived from Miscanthus biomass by Clostridium acetobutylicum ATCC 824
in Biomass and Bioenergy
Sekar R
(2012)
Bacterial water quality and network hydraulic characteristics: a field study of a small, looped water distribution system using culture-independent molecular methods.
in Journal of applied microbiology
Description | Cellular interactions are fundamental to all biological processes. Understanding of cell-cell interactions, with the ultimate vision of harnessing this new knowledge for future engineering of bioprocesses, crosses medical, process engineering and environmental disciplines. The observation of cell-cell interactions is not a new phenomenon. However, despite the prevalence and significance of cell-cell interaction in bio-engineering systems, little is understood about how the processes at the molecular level (i.e. the science approach) connect to macro scale characteristics (i.e. the engineering problem). In order to understand, and ultimately engineer and model the process of cell-cell interactions, a combined approach that concurrently addresses the key (and interdependent) (process) engineering, biological and biochemical questions surrounding cell-cell interactions is needed. The development of such an integrated framework was the core philosophy of this fellowship. With my expertise, and the opportunity of this fellowship, I was uniquely placed to bring skills from both the physical/chemical engineering and biological sciences to bear on this bio-engineering issue. A core strength of this fellowship, was my ability to combine biological '-omic' techniques with engineering and colloidal investigations to link biological and physical processes that govern cell to cell interactions. Using model bacterial systems (E.coli and B.cereus), I examined how external drivers influenced cell surface characteristics and ultimately cell to cell interaction. I extended this study into the different environmental applications (e.g. urban water systems, fermentation) as well as archaeal and eukaryotic systems to gain a more holistic view of cell to cell interactions. This fellowship was timely, as it opened up new research opportunities to establish international networks with research groups specialising in individual key aspects of cell-cell interactions or different applications. It was also timely because, with the continued development in the biological sciences, it is now possible to start relating biological function with specific physical cell characteristics and engineering relevance. |
Exploitation Route | The knowledge developed in this fellowship, as a result, provided the fundamental understanding necessary to begin to unravel the interconnected engineering, biological and physical processes in studying cell to cell interactions, and ultimately help to identify innovative ways to manage the processes. |
Sectors | Environment Other |
Description | Referenced in academic journal papers. Used as an approach to investigate biofilm aggregation in a variety of different applications. Lead to new collaborations. |
First Year Of Impact | 2007 |
Sector | Education |
Description | A European Network For Mitigating Bacterial Colonisation And Persistence On Foods And Food Processing Environments |
Amount | £145,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | COST ACTION FA1202 |
Organisation | European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) |
Sector | Public |
Country | Belgium |
Start | 02/2012 |
End | 01/2016 |
Description | A GLOBAL SOLUTION TO PROTECT WATER BY TRANSFORMING WASTE |
Amount | £956,234 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/J00538X/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 05/2012 |
End | 05/2015 |
Description | Biodesalination: from cell to tap |
Amount | £1,040,620 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/J004871/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 08/2011 |
End | 10/2014 |
Description | Deploying Synthetic Biology in the Water Industry |
Amount | £200,696 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/H023488/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2010 |
End | 04/2011 |
Description | Pennine Water Group (PWG); Urban Water Systems for a Changing World |
Amount | £1,201,728 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/I029346/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 04/2011 |
End | 04/2016 |
Description | ROADBLOCK: Towards Programmable Defensive Bacterial Coatings & Skins |
Amount | £605,234 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/I031812/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2012 |
End | 09/2015 |
Description | Using a synthetic biology approach to engineer urban water system biofilms |
Amount | £246,458 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/M017680/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2015 |
End | 12/2016 |
Description | Research Seminar - overview of activities |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Invited research seminar to School of Engineering, Newcastle University, where I gave an overview of my research activities with the aim of future collaborations |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |