DrosophiLAP: a live in vivo study of LC3-Associated Phagocytosis

Cells utilise phagocytosis to eat and autophagy to survive food scarcity. The two processes were only recently found to share part of their machineries: LC3, a key autophagy player, is also involved in phagocytosis. The newly-identified LC3-associated phagocytosis, or "LAP", occurs in immune cells (e.g. macrophages), and regulates the immune response. Our understanding of LAP is currently limited by the lack of a model to monitor this process in living organisms, and to assess the effects of LAP perturbation in real-time. To overcome this, I will perform live-super-resolution microscopy to visualise LAP occurring in macrophages within living Drosophila (fruitfly) embryos. This will allow me to understand whether LAP is important for innate immune priming, the process that renders macrophages able to recognise wounds and fight pathogens. Importantly, using a complex organism like Drosophila will give me the chance to explore whether other types of cells (eg. adipocytes) also perform LAP.