Large-scale patterning of living colloids for dynamic studies of neutrophil-microbe interactions

Lab Chip. 2018 May 29;18(11):1514-1520. doi: 10.1039/c8lc00228b.

Abstract

Neutrophils are the first white blood cells to respond to microbes and to limit their invasion of the body. However, the growth of the microbes into colonies often challenges the neutrophils ability to contain them. To study the interactions between neutrophils and microbial colonies, we designed an assay for arranging microbes in clusters of controlled size (i.e. living colloids). The patterned microbes in the living colloid are mechanically trapped inside the wells and fully accessible to neutrophils. Using the assay, we studied the interactions between human neutrophils and Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus, two common human pathogens. We also probed the susceptibility of C. albicans colloids to caspofungin, a common antifungal drug.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology
  • Candida albicans / drug effects
  • Candida albicans / pathogenicity
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Colloids / chemistry*
  • High-Throughput Screening Assays / instrumentation*
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / instrumentation*
  • Neutrophils / microbiology*

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Colloids