Data-driven approaches to modelling collective cell migration

Collective cell migration is the defining characteristic of many biological events involved in morphogenesis, regeneration, and pathology. This abundance, together with the immense clinical and therapeutic advances that would arise from the ability to control collective migration in specific applica...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Martina-Perez, S
Other Authors: Baker, R
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: 2023
_version_ 1826313299963150336
author Martina-Perez, S
author2 Baker, R
author_facet Baker, R
Martina-Perez, S
author_sort Martina-Perez, S
collection OXFORD
description Collective cell migration is the defining characteristic of many biological events involved in morphogenesis, regeneration, and pathology. This abundance, together with the immense clinical and therapeutic advances that would arise from the ability to control collective migration in specific applications in regenerative medicine and oncology, has led to an enormous increase in the number of studies on collective cell migration. Yet, the integration of large biological data sets with modelling has proven challenging. In this thesis, we address three main challenges: connecting mathematical models with high-dimensional data, leveraging biological data to learn new mathematical models, and controlling biological systems using mathematical models. In our first case study, we combine individual-based models with computational Bayesian statistics to identify links between genetic perturbations and cellular phenotypes in a large siRNA screen. We propose a new approach to approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) and show that it is possible to identify the functional impact of a range of different genetic perturbations. Second, in the context of Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) epithelial monolayers, we use a continuum mechanics model to characterise the role of mechanical power expenditure in regulating active cellular forces. We then utilise this knowledge in a continuum model for collective electrotaxis which takes into account energy expenditure during migration, and develop an optimal control framework to achieve experimentally desirable outcomes. By deriving a Keller-Segel type model of collective electrotaxis, we propose design of optimal electric fields that vary in space and in time. Finally, by combining single-cell tracking with deep attention networks, we discover a set of genes critical for the invasion of c8161 melanoma cells: failure to express these genes leads to abnormal leader-follower dynamics. Together, the contributions of this thesis are towards developing new approaches to data-driven mathematical modelling, using the derived models to control biological systems, and understanding the underlying mechanisms.
first_indexed 2024-09-25T04:12:31Z
format Thesis
id oxford-uuid:a0a209c7-1ef3-463a-86cc-a68bb63c247e
institution University of Oxford
language English
last_indexed 2024-09-25T04:12:31Z
publishDate 2023
record_format dspace
spelling oxford-uuid:a0a209c7-1ef3-463a-86cc-a68bb63c247e2024-06-25T10:06:59ZData-driven approaches to modelling collective cell migrationThesishttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_db06uuid:a0a209c7-1ef3-463a-86cc-a68bb63c247eEnglishHyrax Deposit2023Martina-Perez, SBaker, RCollective cell migration is the defining characteristic of many biological events involved in morphogenesis, regeneration, and pathology. This abundance, together with the immense clinical and therapeutic advances that would arise from the ability to control collective migration in specific applications in regenerative medicine and oncology, has led to an enormous increase in the number of studies on collective cell migration. Yet, the integration of large biological data sets with modelling has proven challenging. In this thesis, we address three main challenges: connecting mathematical models with high-dimensional data, leveraging biological data to learn new mathematical models, and controlling biological systems using mathematical models. In our first case study, we combine individual-based models with computational Bayesian statistics to identify links between genetic perturbations and cellular phenotypes in a large siRNA screen. We propose a new approach to approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) and show that it is possible to identify the functional impact of a range of different genetic perturbations. Second, in the context of Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) epithelial monolayers, we use a continuum mechanics model to characterise the role of mechanical power expenditure in regulating active cellular forces. We then utilise this knowledge in a continuum model for collective electrotaxis which takes into account energy expenditure during migration, and develop an optimal control framework to achieve experimentally desirable outcomes. By deriving a Keller-Segel type model of collective electrotaxis, we propose design of optimal electric fields that vary in space and in time. Finally, by combining single-cell tracking with deep attention networks, we discover a set of genes critical for the invasion of c8161 melanoma cells: failure to express these genes leads to abnormal leader-follower dynamics. Together, the contributions of this thesis are towards developing new approaches to data-driven mathematical modelling, using the derived models to control biological systems, and understanding the underlying mechanisms.
spellingShingle Martina-Perez, S
Data-driven approaches to modelling collective cell migration
title Data-driven approaches to modelling collective cell migration
title_full Data-driven approaches to modelling collective cell migration
title_fullStr Data-driven approaches to modelling collective cell migration
title_full_unstemmed Data-driven approaches to modelling collective cell migration
title_short Data-driven approaches to modelling collective cell migration
title_sort data driven approaches to modelling collective cell migration
work_keys_str_mv AT martinaperezs datadrivenapproachestomodellingcollectivecellmigration