Phagocytosis is the process of engulfment or internalization of comparatively larger particles by the cell, that plays a central role in our immune system. We study the process of phagocytosis by considering a simplified coarse grained model of a three-dimensional vesicle, having uniform adhesion interaction with a particle, in the presence of curved membrane proteins and active cytoskeleton forces. We note that complete engulfment is achieved when the bending energy cost of the vesicle is balanced by the gain in the adhesion energy. The curved proteins reduce the bending energy cost by self-organizing themselves at the highly curved leading edge, forming the circular rim of the phagocytic cup that wraps around the particle, and the engulfment is achieved at much smaller adhesion strength. The self-organization of active forces around the leading edge allows the formation of arc-like protrusion at much smaller protein density, and the engulfment is achieved more quickly. We consider spherical as well as non-spherical particles (spheroid, sphero-cylinder etc.) and note that non-spherical particles are more difficult to engulf in comparison to the spherical particles of the same surface area. For non-spherical particles, the engulfment time crucially depends upon the initial orientation of particles with respect to the vesicle. The engulfment of flat oblate shaped particles reveals another active mechanism, where the active force stretches the vesicle away from its centre of mass and allows the vesicle to engulf the particle efficiently.

Theoretical model of efficient phagocytosis driven by curved membrane proteins and active cytoskeleton forces

Exploring the intricacies of host-pathogen communication is vital in order to understand why
some microbes persist within a host, while others are effectively cleared. As such,
host-pathogen communication is an urgent area of research underpinning human health
and disease, especially given the emerging concerns of antibiotic resistance.
Understanding host-pathogen pathways requires intricate knowledge in the fields of both
microbiology and immunology.

Living in a world of specialists, where scientists sometimes invest their whole career
studying one organism, a specific pathway or a protein, multidisciplinary discussions of
host-pathogen interactions are highly needed. This international conference will provide
such a forum for scientific exchange at the highest level, between scientists from different
research areas related to host-pathogen interactions, with the aim to trigger fruitful
collaborations addressing the urgent questions in the field.

This meeting has an additional special focus of bringing researchers from Ireland, Denmark
and Israel together to learn about cutting edge biology and form new collaborations.
Thus, the conference will be a showcase for the exciting and original research emanating
from these three small but innovative countries.