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The regulation of neutrophil chemotaxis

Reference	BBS/E/B/0000C238
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Len Stephens
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Dr Phillip Hawkins
Institution	Babraham Institute
Department	Babraham Institute Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	81,354
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	14/07/2009
End date	31/03/2012
Duration	33 months

Abstract

We have established a collaboration with researchers in the Warwick University Systems Biology Centre to study the regulation of neutrophil chemotaxis. Neutrophils are 'white cells' that are a key component of our innate immune system, responsible primarily for fighting bacterial and fungal infections. Neutrophils find pathogens by moving with remarkable efficiency towards sources of chemicals that are generated directly by the pathogens themselves, or indirectly via the interaction of pathogens with body cells. These chemicals are called chemoattractants and the process is known as 'chemotaxis'. The molecular mechanisms which underlie the ability of neutrophils to detect and move up shallow gradients of chemoattractants are still poorly understood. Our group is experienced in studying the signalling pathways which couple the activation of chemottractant receptors on the surface of neutrophils with events inside the cells. One of the main problems we face in trying to understand how these receptors regulate directed cell movement is in describing the movement itself in sufficient quantitative detail that that the process can be de-convoluted into aspects that can be aligned against molecular events. We are currently using state of the art 3-D microscopy to create live images of neutrophil movement. Our collaborators in Warwick are looking at these images to see if they can use their mathematical knowledge and experience to define common motifs that define the process of chemotaxis. This is a short grant to see if enough progress can be made to warrant a full collaborative grant application to be made in the near future.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Not funded via Committee
Research Topics	Immunology
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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