PhD position (M/F): Mechanics of tumor cell trogocytosis by macrophages
New
- FTC PhD student / Offer for thesis
- 36 months
- Doctorate
This offer is available in English version
This offer is open to people with a document recognizing their status as a disabled worker.
Offer at a glance
The Unit
Institut de Pharmacologie et Biologie Structurale
Contract Type
FTC PhD student / Offer for thesis
Working hHours
Full Time
Workplace
31077 TOULOUSE
Contract Duration
36 months
Date of Hire
01/09/2027
Remuneration
2300 € gross monthly
Apply Application Deadline : 19 October 2026 23:59
Job Description
Thesis Subject
Macrophages are professional phagocytes of the immune system. One of their key functions, both for tissue homeostasis and the destruction of pathogens, is to ingest and digest particles. This process, known as phagocytosis, involves a dynamic reorganisation of the actin cytoskeleton and the generation of mechanical forces.
When particles are too large to be ingested whole, macrophages can also extract small portions of the target particle one by one, a phenomenon known as trogocytosis. Trogocytosis plays a variety of crucial roles, ranging from the regulation of the haematopoietic niche to the modulation of immune responses. In the context of cancer, this process is notably utilised by macrophages to ingest opsonised tumour cells piece by piece.
During phagocytosis, the macrophage exerts mechanical forces on its target, generated by actin polymerisation and myosin contractility. Whilst the role of these cytoskeletal motors in phagocytosis is well characterised, the molecular mechanisms and forces involved in trogocytosis remain, to date, largely unexplored, and we hypothesise that mechanical forces are crucial for efficient trogocytosis.
The aim of this project is therefore to characterise the structure and function of the cytoskeleton and the mechanical forces involved in the process of trogocytosis carried out by macrophages. To this end, experimental models of trogocytosis involving tumour cells and human and murine macrophages will be established, and trogocytosis will be quantified using fixed samples via real-time microscopy techniques. A specific labelling strategy will be developed to distinguish trogocytosis events from those of phagocytosis. Once these approaches have been optimised, pharmacological inhibitors and CRISPR-Cas9-mediated gene depletion approaches targeting the macrophage cytoskeleton will be used to assess the impact of its inhibition on the efficiency and dynamics of the trogocytosis process, thereby beginning to better understand the functioning of this key yet poorly characterised process.
Your Work Environment
The PhD student will be based at the IPBS.
This project will be carried out within the Phagocyte Architecture and Dynamics team (Renaud Poincloux and Christel Vérollet), utilising all the resources and methods available within the team and the institute, and in collaboration with the team led by Spencer Freeman at SickKids in Toronto.
Safety requirements in accordance with the IPBS's internal regulations.
Compensation and benefits
Compensation
2300 € gross monthly
Annual leave and RTT
44 jours
Remote Working practice and compensation
Pratique et indemnisation du TT
Transport
Prise en charge à 75% du coût et forfait mobilité durable jusqu’à 300€
About the offer
| Offer reference | UMR5089-RENPOI-013 |
|---|---|
| CN Section(s) / Research Area | Cellular biology, development, evolution-development, reproduction |
About the CNRS
The CNRS is a major player in fundamental research on a global scale. The CNRS is the only French organization active in all scientific fields. Its unique position as a multi-specialist allows it to bring together different disciplines to address the most important challenges of the contemporary world, in connection with the actors of change.
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