Marta Batet Palau

I'm extremely happy to say that a new preprint from Ruprecht lab is out! Check it to to know more about a novel role for the E-cadherin/catenin complex in controlling epithelial phagocytosis 🍽🐟🔬

Features new works from Stankunas Lab @uoregon.bsky.social, Ruprecht Lab @crg.eu & @campaslab.bsky.social (albeit mammals this time 😉)

Target cell cortical tension regulates macrophage trogocytosis - Nature Cell Biology Cornell et al. show that target cells with low cortical tension induce macrophages to preferentially trogocytose, or engulf in small fragments, whereas target cells with high cortical tension tend tow...

How does a macrophage decide to eat or simply nibble? Check out our latest paper! You can also read this nice review. Congrats Caitlin for leading this amazing work!

www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

📝 New preprint from the lab lead by Hanna Häkkinen,
@martabatetpalau.bsky.social, and @laurafbianchi.bsky.social! The mechanics on how the early embryo stays clear from apoptotic debris. A surprising role for E-cadherin in non-professional phagocytic clearance 🍝.

De novo E-cadherin/catenin complex formation controls basal epithelial mechanics and force transmission for apoptotic cell clearance https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2025.12.08.692667v1

🔥 Piping hot; fresh from the oven! Fever-like conditions accelerate immune cell speed and efficiency through thermoregulation of actomyosin contractility. Congrats to Ivan Company-Garrido, @alempheius.bsky.social, and @mcolomerr.bsky.social on this huge collaborative effort.

Ever wondered how to control stretch/compression in your epithelial system? Do you know why it’s important, which mechanotransduction mechanisms could be involved? I am @valeriaventurini.bsky.social and today I will guide you through this journey.

Super cool new research from the lab in collab with our lab neighbors :)

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Please RT!

We're looking for a postdoc to join an exciting joint project between our lab @upf.edu & @crg.eu (Barcelona) and the Sander lab @mdc-berlin.bsky.social (Berlin) investigating how alternative splicing and microexons influences the maturation of pancreatic islets.

Deadline: 30/09/25👇

Phagocytosis at a glance Summary: Phagocytosis involves receptor-driven actin and membrane remodelling to engulf microbes and debris. The phagosome then matures for degradation, supporting both nutrition and immune responses.

Thrilled to share that our "Poster at a Glance" on #Phagocytosis is out! Thank you @jcellsci.bsky.social @biologists.bsky.social for the invitation ! Prepared with @manondepierre.bsky.social @chiarapompili.bsky.social from @institutcochin.bsky.social journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...

Tissue geometry spatiotemporally drives bacterial infections Tissue-geometry-regulated cellular traction forces trigger the activation of Piezo1 and its co-localization with bacteria to facilitate the formation of specific bacterial invasion patterns to promote infection.

Now online! Tissue geometry spatiotemporally drives bacterial infections

How innate immunity starts? Early embryos eliminate bacterial infections by epithelial phagocytosis, a conserved process from zebrafish to human embryos. Check our story:
www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

Do you want to join us to work in neurodevelopmental biology? Please apply 👇 #SEBD

A crosstalk between adhesion and phagocytosis integrates macrophage functions into their microenvironment Cell biology; Organizational aspects of cell biology; Specialized functions of cells; Functional aspects of cell biology

I knew there would be an effect! This has been one of the questions that I had for the longest time. Changing the mechanics of the substrate affects phagocytosis. Very interesting paper!
www.cell.com/iscience/ful...

The job call is officially open. If you're interested, please apply through this link ASAP! 😃

www.mdc-berlin.de/career/jobs/...

Please RT! 🙏