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| 1st Year: Basic aspects of epithelial mechanobiology | |
| Teaching module 1: Introduction to basic concepts in biophysics and cell biology (alternative choice depending on background) | |
| Biological physics: review of statistical physics, continuum mechanics, fluid dynamics at small scales, theory of diffusion for biological systems |
A.-S. Smith, R. Merkel, U. Schnakenberg |
| Basics in cell biology and histology: cellular compartments, cytoskeleton and adhesion, extracellular matrix, cell communication, cell cycle, concepts in histology and features of epithelial differentiation | V. Buck*, R. Leube, A. Ludwig, N. Schwarz*, R. Windoffer* |
| Teaching day 1: A bottom-up engineering approach to the mechanical components of epithelial assemblies | |
| Mechanical properties of molecules (proteins & polymers; deformability, unfolding by forces), of molecular bonds (force induced dissociation, catch & slip bonds), and molecular assemblies (filaments and networks) |
R. Merkel, R. Göstl** |
| Cell-matrix and cell-cell-adhesion as examples of dynamic supramolecular aggregates, also force-induced breakage of adhesions (tape peeling models, molecular models) | R. Merkel, A.-S. Smith |
| Mechanical properties of individual cells, cellular assemblies and extracellular matrix | R. Merkel, R. Leube, A. Ludwig, R. Windoffer*, H. Fischer |
| Teaching day 2: Formation and dynamics of complex epithelial structures | |
| Cell migration: Fundamental epithelial properties in health and disease | R. Leube, A. Ludwig, R. Merkel |
| Cyst formation and tubulation: Key features of epithelial dynamics during development and differentiation - Mechanics of plates, cylinders and shells | R. Merkel, R. Leube |
| Organoids as functional tissue equivalents | R. Leube, N. Schwarz*, W. Wagner |
| Teaching day 3: Hallmarks of epithelial systems | |
| Surface specializations, stratum specificity and cellular heterogeneity | R. Leube, N. Schwarz* |
| The extracellular matrix in molecular interplay with and as a mechanical counterbalance of epithelia | G. Klein***, E. Noetzel-Reiss* |
| Hydrodynamic aspects in epithelial cell biology: Basics in rheology at small length scales: low Reynolds numbers hydrodynamics, Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids; microfluidic devices to mimic the epithelium-liquid and epithelium-air interface |
S. Jockenhövel, U. Schnakenberg |
| Teaching day 4: Force as a signal in epithelial tissues: perception, transduction and response | |
| Structures and molecules for mechanosensing | A. Ludwig, W. Wagner |
| Mechanically induced signaling pathways signal transduction | A. Ludwig, A. Sechi** |
| Neuronal force sensing in epithelia | A. Lampert, A. Binshtok*** |
| 2nd Year: Experimental approaches in epithelial mechanobiology | |
| Teaching day 5: Biophotonics | |
| Principles and choices in light microscopy | G. Müller-Newen**, R. Windoffer* |
| Monitoring processes in 3D | V. Buck*, R. Leube, E. Noetzel-Reiss* |
| Genetically-encoded molecular force sensors and optogenetic actuators | R. Göstl**, R. Leube |
| Teaching module 2: Analysis of images and statistical analysis of cellular properties and processes | |
| Introduction to data analysis (statistical distributions, accuracies, hypothesis testing) - Basic algorithms for microscopy image analysis - Principles of multidimensional data analysis |
A.-S. Smith, N. Aliee*, S. Uhlig |
| Teaching day 6: Tools for force application | |
| Magnetic and optical tweezers | U. Schnakenberg, R. Windoffer |
| AFM, cell stretcher and laser nanosurgery | B. Hoffmann*, R. Merkel |
| Magnetogenetics for control of mechanobiological processes | C. Monzel*** |
| Teaching day 7: Biomaterials and tissue engineering | |
| Biomaterials: Natural and synthetic hydrogels with defined mechanical properties | L. De Laporte, H. Fischer, S. Jockenhövel |
| Tissue engineering: Role of fiber-based scaffolds and bioreactors for 3D epithelial tissue constructs | S. Jockenhövel, P. Mela**, S. Singh** |
| Tissue engineering: Bioprinting composite tissues | H. Fischer |
| Teaching day 8: Bioinformatics for epithelial mechanobiology | |
| Working with big data and supercomputers | K. Krajsek*** |
| Machine learning | K. Krajsek*** |
| Computational pathway and network analysis | I. Costa** |
| 3rd Year: Current issues in epithelial mechanobiology | |
| Teaching module 3: Building numerical models for biological processes and computational methods | |
| Introduction to computational modeling – basic simulation algorithms for energy and free energy minimizers , simple and kinetic MC, Langevin and Newton dynamics | A.-S. Smith, M. Aliee* |
| Teaching day 9: Tissue mechanics as a regulator of epithelial differentiation and function | |
| Stem cell differentiation in defined mechanical niches | S. Neuss-Stein**; W. Wagner |
| Trophoblast invasion and connective tissue stiffness | V. Buck*, I. Claßen-Linke* |
| Metastasis and connective tissue stiffness | E. Noetzel-Reiss*, W. Wagner |
| Teaching day 10: Technological advancements part 1 | |
| State of the art and challenges in functional tracheal implant fabrication | H. Fischer, S. Jockenhövel, L. Thiebes* |
| State of the art and challenges in biopriniting of epidermal equivalents | H. Fischer |
| State of the art and challenges in functionalized cell substrates | L. De Laporte |
| Teaching day 11: Technological advancements part 2 | |
| State of the art and challenges in photonic scaffold production technologies and photosensitive biomaterials | S. Jockenhövel; N. Nottrodt** |
| Genetic engineering of primary cells and cell lines for applications in mechanobiology | A. Ludwig, W. Wagner |
| The ins and outs of omics | J. Jankowski** |
| Teaching day 12: Epithelial mechanobiology in health and disease (teaching day 4) | |
| Alternative mechanoresponses in genetic skin disease | A. Lampert, R. Leube, N. Schwarz* |
| Mechanical stress and inflammation | A. Ludwig, K. Reiss*, S. Uhlig |
| Altered force distribution in tissue invasion | V. Buck*, R. Leube |
| Wrap-up (half day): Summary and reflection of curriculum | |
| Critical assessment and evaluation of the entire module with concrete suggestions for improvement | Chairs: Student representatives and spokespersons |
