Matthieu Piel

Softer when Thicker: a Conserved Scaling Law Governs Actin Cortex Mechanics

The paper measures actin cortex thickness and elasticity in live cells, finding a universal scaling law (E ~ h-2) that depends on actin filament volume fraction.

Adaptive motility enables neutrophils to rapidly navigate confined capillaries

This study shows neutrophils maintain high migration speed in capillaries of varying sizes by adapting their actomyosin cytoskeleton via the ROCK-MyoII pathway, preventing vascular obstruction.

Bacterial growth under confinement requires transcriptional adaptation to resist metabolite-induced turgor pressure build-up

This study shows that bacterial growth under confinement leads to increased turgor pressure, which disrupts division and protein synthesis, and activates the Rcs pathway, with implications for infection physiology.

Optogenetic control of actin crosslinker length reveals a mechanical basis for cortical symmetry breaking

This study uses optogenetic control of actin crosslinker length to show how different crosslinker lengths affect cortical mechanics and drive cell polarization or delamination.

Spatiotemporal dynamics of hydrogen peroxide during neutrophil swarming in 3D

This study visualizes H2O2 dynamics during neutrophil swarming using a 3D ex vivo system and HyPer7-expressing cells, showing spatially confined and temporally coupled ROS production.

Coupled nucleoplasmic flows and envelope expansion govern the mechanical resistance of the nucleus

This study proposes a physical model of the nucleus that explains its mechanical behavior under deformation, highlighting the role of the envelope and chromatin in nuclear mechanics.

Torque-based immune cell chemotaxis in complex environments

This study identifies distinct chemotactic strategies in neutrophils and dendritic cells, showing how cytoskeletal components and environmental factors influence directed migration in complex tissues.

A Dual Homeostatic Regulation of Dry Mass and Volume Defines a Target Density in Proliferating Mammalian Cells

This study identifies two homeostatic mechanisms in mammalian cells that regulate dry mass and volume to maintain a target density during proliferation.

Adhesion to nanofibers drives cell membrane remodeling through 1D wetting

This study identifies a novel physical mechanism, 1D wetting, by which Neisseria meningitidis drives plasma membrane remodeling on nanofibers independent of F-actin.