Title: TBC​

Title: Resolution limit of image analysis algorithms

Abstract: The resolution of an imaging system is a key property that, despite many advances in optical imaging methods, remains difficult to define and apply. Rayleigh’s and Abbe’s resolution criteria were developed for observations with the human eye. However, modern imaging data is typically acquired on highly sensitive cameras and often requires complex image processing algorithms to analyze. Up until now, there have been no approaches for evaluating the resolving capability of such image processing algorithms that are now central to the analysis of imaging data, particularly location-based imaging data. Using methods of spatial statistics, we develop a novel algorithmic resolution limit to characterise the resolving capabilities of location-based image processing algorithms. We provide a method for estimating the algorithmic resolution limit and quantify the effect of insufficient algorithmic resolution on location based image analysis.

Title: Understanding and exploiting self-assembly in liquid crystals​​

Title: Nano-Formulation Engineering: Investigating Molecules at Interface for the Design of Sustainable Chemical Products​​

Title: How to tell left from right

Abstract: The human body is externally mirror symmetrical between left and right, but as any small child will tell you, the heart is positioned towards the left side of the body. Indeed, most of the internal organs and associated vasculature show left-right asymmetry in their pattern and positioning. This asymmetry is established early during embryonic development, when polarised cilia beat to cause a leftward flow of fluid in a structure we call the node. This bio-mechanical force/flow is somehow interpreted by cells at the edge of the node. We use a combination of genetics, cell biology and developmental biology to address how this process works and to assess its role in disease. I will introduce the biology and then discuss how we and others use imaging to visualise aspects of the process; I will try to highlight some of the challenges we currently face and what we are currently unable to image.

Website: https://www.har.mrc.ac.uk/research/cilia-development-and-disease/

Title: Bacterial DNA repair mechanisms revealed using single molecule imaging and force methods​​​

Title: smFRET to probe the dynamics of the antibacterial peptide ABC transporter McjD​

Title: Sampling of single particle tracking solutions for single molecule microscopy

Abstract: The dependence on model-fitting to evaluate particle trajectories makes it difficult for single particle tracking (SPT) to resolve the heterogeneous molecular motions typical of cells. We present here a global spatiotemporal sampler for SPT solutions using a Metropolis-Hastings algorithm. The sampler does not find just the most likely solution but also assesses its likelihood and presents alternative solutions. This enables the estimation of the tracking error. Furthermore the algorithm samples the parameters that govern the tracking process and therefore does not require any tweaking by the user. We demonstrate the algorithm on synthetic and single molecule data sets. Metrics for the comparison of SPT are generalised to be applied to a SPT sampler. We illustrate using the example of the diffusion coefficient how the distribution of the tracking solutions can be propagated into a distribution of derived quantities. We also discuss the major challenges that are posed by the realisation of a SPT samp​ler.​

Title: Generating synthetic bacterial vesicles to enhance recombinant protein production for Industrial Biotechnology applications

Abstract: The isolation of recombinant biopharmaceuticals from large scale fermentation cultures is a major challenge to industry. The ability to target the secretion of recombinant proteins into culture media is attractive as it improves efficiency and reduces costs. Currently there are no established methods for transporting recombinant proteins across bacterial membranes, or for generating vesicles to facilitate the subsequent isolation and purification of a biopharmaceutical protein from the culture media. We have developed a novel system that utilises the expression of a synaptic vesicle turnover regulating protein, that when expressed in the established recombinant protein production gram-negative bacterium, E. coli, drives the formation of extracellular vesicles, or exosomes. We have also established preliminary methodologies for targeting desired proteins of interest to the interior of the recombinant vesicle. These combined synthetic systems provide an exciting opportunity for delivering high-value recombinant proteins from the bacterial cell, into the culture media, to allow simple protein purification from continuous and perfusion cultures. During this talk I will describe how live cell imaging, molecular biology and biochemical metholodogies have been used to characterise and direct the development of this novel recombinant production system.​

​​Speaker: Dr. Lin Wang (STFC)

Title: Super-resolution microscopy: concepts and bioimaging applications

Abstract: Super-resolution microscopy (SRM) has revolutionised the way we understand biology. In this talk I will give a brief introduction to the physics and mathematics behind a variety of SRM, including Airyscan, Structured Illumination Microscopy (SIM) and Single Molecule Localisation Microscopy (SMLM). I will also present a few case studies demonstrating how we use SRM to decipher the relationships between some proteins’ spatial organisation and their function in changing cellular context. From this talk, potential users may comprehend the characteristics of different SRM imaging modalities, therefore choose the most suitable imaging methods in their own research.

Title: Photoaffinity (cleavable) kinase probes for chemical proteomics and binding site mapping​

Abstract: Chemical proteomics is powerful strategy that uses chemical probes for a functional read-out of the proteome (depending on the type of probe used), directly in native biological systems. In the kinase drug discovery field, this read-out is related to the proteome-wide selectivity of kinase inhibitors. In this talk, I will first give an introduction about chemical probes and chemical proteomics and then give two examples of my current research. The latter involves profiling the off-targets of kinase inhibitors as well as a novel MS-based method for mapping their binding site.​