The MINFLUX platform allows you to resolve structures as small as a molecule, along all three dimensions. Single molecules can also be tracked at extremely rapid speeds. We exploit these qualities to study the Natural Killer cell immune synapse during antibody-based activation. We aim to understand how differences in antibody phenotype alter synapse dynamics and if this correlates with differences in cytotoxicity.

Studying protein structure facilitates the bridging of observations at the cellular scale with those at the macromolecular level. Our lab has unprecedented access to several state-of-the art electron microscopes and crystallography robots. We maintain an interest in structural biology to study receptors associated with cellular effector functions. If you are interested in these projects, contact Dr. Murin.

Cellular effector functions form the cornerstone immune response to pathogens and cancers. These responses can be widely variable and depend on several factors, thus making it difficult to design effective therapeutics. We plan to use high-throughput imaging and RNA/single cell sequencing to take a birds eye view of cellular processes so we can focus in on elements that regulate cellular activation.