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PROJECT TITLE: Interaction of natural killer cells with infected cancer cell population: microfluidics-based
experiments and single-cell-level mathematical modeling
OBJECTIVES. The aim of the project is to analyze interactions of natural killer (NK) cells with an infected cell
population at the single-cell resolution. Specifically, we will investigate the interactions of primary NK cells, two
respiratory epithelial cell lines: cancerous A549 and non-cancerous BEAS-2B, and two respiratory viruses:
respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza A virus (IAV). The A549 cell line and RSV will be the primary
subjects of research. The main objectives are as follows:
a) Elucidation of the impact of NK cell-induced cell death on the dynamics of propagation and eradication of
RSV and IAV infections. Characterization of distinct specificities of NK cells towards the infected and the noninfected
subpopulation of the cell culture.
b) Determination of the capacity of NK cells to induce immunogenic cell death in infected cells.
c) Development of a droplet-based microfluidic system to perform experiments on co-cultures of adherent
and suspended cells, that will enable data acquisition at the single-cell resolution.
d) Development of an agent-based, spatial stochastic model capturing interactions of NK cells with an
infected cell population.
IMPACT. We envision that outcomes of the project will increase our understanding of (i) the role of NK cells in
elimination or suppression of virus propagation, (ii) their potential role in cancer immunotherapies, (iii)
applicability of droplet microfluidics technologies for the adherent cells studies.