Biophysical Society Thematic Meeting | Ascona 2026

Mechanobiology of Infection

Monday Speaker Abstracts

MECHANOBIOLOGY OF CYTOTOXIC LYMPHOCYTE MOVEMENTS AND INTERACTIONS Maté Biro 1,2 ; 1 Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, Australia 2 University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia Cytotoxic lymphocytes can migrate rapidly and with striking versatility in a continuous search for cells to subdue. The mechanisms and cellular forces that underpin the movements and coordinated interactions of T cells and Natural Killer cells are incompletely understood. Here, we investigate the intercellular signalling and mechanical forces that these killer immune cells employ to effectively navigate and converge in 3-dimensional tissues. Using an integrative and multidisciplinary method encompassing cell biology, immunology, 3D live-cell traction-force microscopy, image analysis, optogenetics, biophysics, and modelling, we are uncovering the intricate forces, movements, and interactions exhibited by cytotoxic lymphocytes.

20