All you ever wanted to know about how to analyse the nematic nature of cellular tissues is right here 👀👇🏼!
Bonus #1: we did it for many cell types and uncovered unexpected defect behavior 🐌
Bonus #2: for theoreticians looking for parameter values for your simulation🧑🏼💻
tinyurl.com/2s399yen
Just published in @science.org 🚀
By controlling how cells align, we show that living nematic tissues can be programmed to generate forces and fold into predictable 3D shapes.
A new platform for tissue engineering and the design of smart active materials!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Amazing! Congratulations, Pau!
New study on topological defects develops a mechanochemical model integrating morphogen concentration and hydrodynamic flow, reproducing experimental collective motility and revealing viscosity, activity, and alignment strength as key factors governing defect-mediated transport.
The CiM-IMPRS PhD program in #Münster is offering 16 #PhD positions in Life and Natural Sciences! Perform cutting-edge resesearch in a vibrant international setting and lively city! Apply by May 1st, 2026 - see www.uni-muenster.de/CiM-IMPRS/ap...
@uni-muenster.de
@mpi-muenster.bsky.social
Congratulations Guillaume #Salbreux and collaborator @aikmi.bsky.social groups for your latest publication in @cellcellpress.bsky.social: Deciphering #mechanical determinants of morphological #evolution @genevunige.bsky.social @sciencesunige.bsky.social #UNIGE
👉 www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
Pictured are cross sections of larvae from Nematotstella (left) and Aiptasia (right), with the sliders underneath representing the mechanical modules which combine to give rise to an organism's mechanotype. Credit: Daniela Velasco/EMBL
A sea anemone looks very different from a coral, despite belonging to the same broad biological group.
A new study from EMBL researchers and their colleagues sheds new light on how diversity arises in body shapes in the animal world.
www.embl.org/news/science...
🔥Exciting new paper from the Ikmi group @embl.org! The authors identified a set of mesoscale mechanical modules that can be used to predict species-specific shapes by combining a comparative analysis of cnidarian larval morphogenesis with active surface theory #morphogenesis #cnidaria
Amazing to see this study finally out! Proud to have contributed to the active surface modelling of cnidaria morphogenesis across species and huge congrats to Richard, Nicolas, and all authors! #morphogenesis #activematter #nematicorder #evolution
• Figure 1 of the article: Fig. 1. Phase diagram of tissue material phase transitions and examples. (A) Schematic diagram showing how continuous changes in microscopic dynamics (control parameter) lead to abrupt, drastic, and non-linear shifts in macroscopic properties that define the material response (order parameter). (Aa-Ab) Exemplary phase transitions as traditionally described in non-living matter, e.g. for water (Aa), as well as in living matter, e.g. for embryonic tissues (Ab). Yellow areas indicate fluid-like tissues and regimes. Blue areas indicate solid-like tissues and regimes. Magenta dashed line depicts the critical point. Orange line marks particle and cell trajectories.
Tissue phase transitions in development: more than just mechanics
In this Review, @nicolettapetridou.bsky.social, @laura-rustarazo.bsky.social and @karengrace12.bsky.social discuss tissue phase transitions during development: doi.org/10.1242/dev....
We summarised the many roles of material phase transitions in development (and they are not just mechanical 🤔)
Excited to share our new review in @dev-journal.bsky.social on tissue phase transitions during development!
@karengrace12.bsky.social @nicolettapetridou.bsky.social
🔗 doi.org/10.1242/dev....
New preprint @biorxiv-devbio.bsky.social by Harshath Amal and colleagues from our lab @uni-muenster.de shows how a BMP #morphogen gradient is translated into graded junctional permeability by tuning adhesion and actomyosin contractility in #Drosophila
See tinyurl.com/yhbwd9xh
@sfb1348.bsky.social
My lab @cri-utsw.bsky.social is looking for a highly motivated postdoct interested in mechanobiology!
We are building a highly collaborative and interdisciplinary team working on how mechanical forces shape immune and cancer cell behavior.
Come do cool science with me!
lnkd.in/gKEXWUGy
Join us today 2-3pm online.
Sign up for the Zoom link here: forms.gle/Mt3y7HQXetrb...
Isasti-Sanchez, J., Münz-Zeise, F., Lancino, M., & Luschnig, S. (2021). Transient opening of tricellular vertices controls paracellular transport through the follicle epithelium during Drosophila oogenesis. Developmental Cell, #EpithelialMechanics doi.org/10.1016/j.de...
Cellular Interfaces reloaded: Join us for the @sfb1348.bsky.social International Meeting on „Mechanochemical signals at cellular interfaces" in Münster from May 27–29, 2026.
Registration opens in February! Limited spots – first come, first serve! More info: tinyurl.com/ypyzd23w
@uni-muenster.de
How does signalling control cortical tension?
Using optogenetics and AFM, we show that myosin recruitment and cortical tension increase proportionally with RhoA signalling.
More here:
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Super work by Pierre Bohec with Guillaume Salbreux and @dianakhorom.bsky.social
New preprint out! We use optogenetics, AFM, and active surface modelling to link signalling ⚡ → mechanics ⚙️ → cell shape 🔵
Congratulations, Wolfram!
Looking forward to an exciting @sfb1348.bsky.social seminar with Lucia Baldauf @ucl.ac.uk on January 8, 2026. She will speak about "Illuminating Forces in Living Tissues". More info: www.uni-muenster.de/SFB1348/en/i... Everyone's welcome!
My lab is hiring a postdoc (ERC funded)! If you're interested, get in touch!
🚨 PhD Position Available 🚨
I’m recruiting a PhD student to join my lab at the Multiscale Imaging Centre (MIC), Münster, Germany.
www.bischofflab.com/jobs
Fully funded ✅
#Cellbio #Morphogenesis #Microscopy
#Drosophila #PhD
(Details Below)
Original Posting:
stellen.uni-muenster.de/jobposting/d...
Congratulations, Adrien! Exciting news! 👏
#LivingArchitectures
We put cells and cytoskeleton filaments on the architecture of the musée d'Orsay.
www.musee-orsay.fr/fr/agenda/ev...
Scientists of the #CytoMorphoLab adapted their protocols to illustrate the questions that keep them awake at night.
-> Two shows on the 24th and 25th of January.
📢Internships on cellular nematics!
🔬Come for the pretty images, stay for the cool physics: each project combines in vitro experiments with advanced microscopy and image analysis.
📧Feel free to DM or email me with any questions.
The historc city center of Münster, famous for the Peace of Westphalia!
2/2 If you’re into #cellbio, cellular interfaces, #mechanobiology, #membranes, anything related, come to Münster, Germany, May 27–29!
www.uni-muenster.de/SFB1348/en/i...
Please spread the word. It’s a fantastic (and FREE!) meeting. And while you’re here, explore Münster… it’s worth it.
#Science
