{"id":55124,"date":"2025-12-09T12:28:11","date_gmt":"2025-12-09T11:28:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/en\/?post_type=news&#038;p=55124"},"modified":"2025-12-09T14:41:22","modified_gmt":"2025-12-09T13:41:22","slug":"let-there-be-light-erc-project-explores-cells-that-control-light-from-within","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/en\/news\/let-there-be-light-erc-project-explores-cells-that-control-light-from-within\/","title":{"rendered":"Let there be light: ERC project explores cells that control light from within"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<section class=\"wp-block-unilux-blocks-free-section section\"><div class=\"container xl:max-w-screen-xl\">\n<p>The&nbsp;European&nbsp;Research Council (ERC) will fund&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/fstm-en\/people\/anupam-sengupta\/\">Prof. Anupam Sengupta<\/a>\u2019s research into how bacteria interact with and control light,&nbsp;and&nbsp;possible opportunities&nbsp;for&nbsp;new imaging technologies.&nbsp;The grant of 2,4 million euros will support&nbsp;advanced microscopy and spectroscopic analysis to examine both laboratory-grown bacteria and those from natural ecosystems.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-unilux-blocks-heading\"        id=\"how-bacteria-handle-light-more-than-meets-the-eye\"\n    >\nHow bacteria handle light: more than meets the eye<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Light usually behaves predictably in the natural world, travelling through air, water, or glass. But a recent discovery by&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/fstm-en\/people\/anupam-sengupta\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Prof. Anupam Sengupta<\/a>, Head of the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/fstm-en\/research-groups\/physics-of-living-matter\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Physics of Living Matter Group<\/a>, hints at something far more surprising: certain bacteria may be shaping and guiding light within their own bodies. This ability comes from tiny granular structures within the cells, previously thought to serve only as energy-storing organelles which get activated when nutrients are&nbsp;limiting. Understanding this opens a new perspective on how bacteria interact with light and could inspire new imaging technologies, for example, methods which could allow scientists to&nbsp;observe&nbsp;living tissues or&nbsp;tumour&nbsp;cells without powerful lasers.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To explore this new dimension of light-matter interactions, Prof. Anupam Sengupta has been awarded the prestigious <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/research-en\/eu-funding-high-profile-grants\/erc-grants\/\">ERC Consolidator Grant (ERC-CoG)<\/a> worth \u20ac2.4 million by the European Research Council, for his project&nbsp;<em>MicroPAS: Microbial Photonics Across Scales<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-unilux-blocks-research-project-card-list flex flex-wrap justify-center sm:justify-start -mx-16\"><li class=\" w-full px-16 sm:w-1\/2 lg:w-1\/3 wp-block-unilux-blocks-research-project-card\">\n    <div class=\"ulux-card card-research bg-theme\">\n        <div class=\"ulux-card__container\">\n            <div class=\"ulux-card__visual\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"w-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/12\/10081309\/Picture1-V2-300x160.png\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/12\/10081309\/Picture1-V2-300x160.png 300w, https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/12\/10081309\/Picture1-V2-1024x547.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/12\/10081309\/Picture1-V2-768x410.png 768w, https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/12\/10081309\/Picture1-V2.png 1386w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" alt=\"\" \/>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"ulux-card__body\">\n                <div class=\"ulux-card__topic break-words\">Physics &amp; Materials Science<\/div>\n                <h3 class=\"ulux-card__title break-words\">\n                    <a class=\"link-absolute\" href=\"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/fstm-en\/research-projects\/microbial-photonics-across-scales-micropas\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                        Microbial Photonics Across Scales (MicroPAS)                    <\/a>\n                <\/h3>\n                <a class=\"link-text ulux-card__link link-absolute\" href=\"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/fstm-en\/research-projects\/microbial-photonics-across-scales-micropas\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                    <span class=\"link-text__name\">Learn more<\/span>\n                     <svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"icon icon-outline icon--external-link icon--2xs\"><use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/wp-content\/themes\/unilux-theme\/assets\/images\/icons\/icons-outline.svg#icon--external-link\"><\/use><\/svg>                <\/a>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhen we observed how these globules interact with light, it became clear that they might be doing much more than simply storing nutrients,\u201d says Prof. Sengupta. \u201cIt raises the exciting possibility that cells are biophysically shaping light in their interior, a phenomenon we never expected to find in microbes. Light can now be captured and \u201ctrapped\u201d within cells! Thanks to these miniature lenses, even a low power light source can allow us to illuminate&nbsp;what\u2019s&nbsp;in there.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-unilux-blocks-heading\"        id=\"comparing-bacteria-from-controlled-and-natural-environments\"\n    >\nComparing bacteria from controlled and natural environments<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>MicroPAS will integrate advanced microscopy and spectroscopic analysis to examine both laboratory-grown bacteria and those from natural ecosystems like the Lake Cadagno in Switzerland and Lake Stechlin in Germany. Prof. Sengupta has been observing these natural aquatic ecosystems for nearly a decade. They offer unique settings where light availability governs interactions and feedback, which will ultimately influence how light-harnessing species grow and survive. The experiments, complemented by data-driven numerical modeling, will pioneer a completely new class of light-based systems inspired by biology. This framework could lead to Living Photonic Circuits, where organelles control, guide and even programme light paths within living cells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-unilux-blocks-quote-people\">\n    <div class=\"quote-people\" role=\"group\">\n        <figure class=\"quote-people__body\">\n            <blockquote class=\"quote-people__blockquote\">\n    <span class=\"quote-people__quote\">\u201f<\/span>\n    Nature often reveals its beauty and its mysteries to us, but only if we\u2019re patient enough to observe them closely.\u201d\n<\/blockquote><!-- People Item Automated: Quote People -->\n<div class=\"quote-people__visual\">\n    <figure class=\"wp-block-dev4-reusable-blocks-image object-fit--cover\">\n        <!-- Template Image Component: default -->\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"w-full\" width=\"\" height=\"\" rel=\"\" alt=\"Prof Anupam SENGUPTA\" src=\"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/en\/person-image\/NTAwMzEzODBfX0FudXBhbSBTRU5HVVBUQQ==\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/en\/person-image\/NTAwMzEzODBfX0FudXBhbSBTRU5HVVBUQQ==--thumbnail 150w,https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/en\/person-image\/NTAwMzEzODBfX0FudXBhbSBTRU5HVVBUQQ==--medium 300w,https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/en\/person-image\/NTAwMzEzODBfX0FudXBhbSBTRU5HVVBUQQ==--medium_large 768w,https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/en\/person-image\/NTAwMzEzODBfX0FudXBhbSBTRU5HVVBUQQ==--large 1024w,https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/en\/person-image\/NTAwMzEzODBfX0FudXBhbSBTRU5HVVBUQQ==--1536x1536 1536w,https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/en\/person-image\/NTAwMzEzODBfX0FudXBhbSBTRU5HVVBUQQ==--2048x2048 2048w\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><!-- end Image Component -->\n    <\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"quote-people__figcaption\">\n    <p class=\"quote-people__author\">Prof Anupam SENGUPTA<\/p>\n    <p class=\"quote-people__position\">Full Professor in Biological Physics, ERC &#8211; Consolidator Investigator and FNR ATTRACT Fellow<\/p>\n    <div class=\"wp-block-unilux-blocks-simple-cta wp-block-unilux-blocks-people-item-automated\">\n    <a\n        href=\"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/fstm-en\/people\/anupam-sengupta\/\"\n        title=\"Prof Anupam SENGUPTA\"\n        class=\"link-text link-text--icon quote-people__link\"\n        target=\"\"\n    >\n        <span class=\"link-text__body\">\n            <span class=\"link-text__name\">View profile<\/span>\n        <\/span>\n        <svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"icon icon-outline icon--arrow-right \"><use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/wp-content\/themes\/unilux-theme\/assets\/images\/icons\/icons-outline.svg#icon--arrow-right\"><\/use><\/svg>    <\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- end People Item Automated -->        <\/figure>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-unilux-blocks-spacer is-spacer-size-sm\"><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-unilux-blocks-heading\"        id=\"when-microbes-become-light-engineers\"\n    >\nWhen microbes become Light Engineers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Phototrophic microorganisms\u2014species that use sunlight to drive metabolism like the purple sulfur bacteria\u2014sit at the foundation of many aquatic food chains. Their ability to harvest light efficiently is crucial to their survival. Traditionally, researchers have studied how microorganisms interact with light&nbsp;mainly through&nbsp;photosynthesis, a well-known biochemical process by which energy from the sunlight is converted into usable chemical energy,&nbsp;ultimately supporting&nbsp;the diverse metabolic needs of&nbsp;a&nbsp;cell.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But Prof. Sengupta\u2019s research suggests that&nbsp;there&#8217;s&nbsp;more than&nbsp;meets&nbsp;the eye. Curiously,&nbsp;he&nbsp;has detected such light&nbsp;manipulating organelles within non-phototrophic bacteria as well, yet these internal structures have never been explored beyond their role&nbsp;as energy-storing units. For instance, many bacteria&nbsp;dwelling&nbsp;in the human gut or in extreme environments like hydrothermal vents,&nbsp;harbour&nbsp;tiny globules made of elemental sulfur or carbonates. These globules may be optically active, although until now scientists believed bacteria used them only&nbsp;for&nbsp;storage,&nbsp;or&nbsp;to control their movements in&nbsp;the watery&nbsp;environments. Prof. Sengupta\u2019s team has now challenged this long-standing wisdom. In a recent discovery, they found evidence that these globules directly shape light inside cells, influencing how the bacteria function, move or store energy internally.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-unilux-blocks-heading\"        id=\"turning-the-question-around-how-growth-and-movement-influence-light-inside-bacteria\"\n    >\nTurning the question around: how growth and movement influence light inside bacteria<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It is well known that light from the environment can influence how bacteria grow and behave. But much less is understood about the opposite: how the physical changes inside these bacteria\u2014such as in the shape, size or packing of organelles\u2014might in turn affect the path of light that enters a cell.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThese organisms live in highly dynamic environments, not least in today\u2019s context of rapid climatic shifts and evolving lifestyles.\u201d Prof. Sengupta explains. \u201cBy studying them at&nbsp;different stages&nbsp;of growth and under&nbsp;ecologically relevant&nbsp;settings, we can start to understand how their physical and biological worlds intertwine. This knowledge will drive the next-generation of nature-inspired systems, offering unprecedented possibilities for bio-based photonic technologies for the future.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-unilux-blocks-heading\"        id=\"intracellular-light-guidance-the-microbial-way\"\n    >\nIntracellular light guidance: the microbial way!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Understanding how light behaves within a single living cell could reshape light-guided applications, including high-speed communication and energy-efficient computing. Further afar, considering the essential role bacteria play in local and global energy flows,&nbsp;MicroPAS&nbsp;will uncover the role of optically active intracellular organelles in energy cycles across scales. Any new knowledge&nbsp;about the&nbsp;internal light-guiding strategies will fundamentally redefine the role of such microorganisms in a range of ecosystems where light is limiting or unevenly distributed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-unilux-blocks-quote-people\">\n    <div class=\"quote-people\" role=\"group\">\n        <figure class=\"quote-people__body\">\n            <blockquote class=\"quote-people__blockquote\">\n    <span class=\"quote-people__quote\">\u201f<\/span>\n    With\u00a0MicroPAS, we have a\u00a0cutting-edge\u00a0opportunity to explore\u00a0a dimension\u00a0of microbial life that\u00a0remains\u00a0completely uncharted.\u00a0It reminds us that even the simplest organisms can hold many surprises. As physicist Richard Feynman once said, \u2018There\u2019s plenty of room at the bottom\u2019;\u00a0an adage that has for\u00a0long inspired the cross-disciplinary research we conduct in my team. This is even more relevant now, as we gear up to explore, and redefine the interfaces between physics and biology, thanks to this ERC-Consolidator Grant!\u201d\n<\/blockquote><!-- People Item Automated: Quote People -->\n<div class=\"quote-people__visual\">\n    <figure class=\"wp-block-dev4-reusable-blocks-image object-fit--cover\">\n        <!-- Template Image Component: default -->\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"w-full\" width=\"\" height=\"\" rel=\"\" alt=\"Prof Anupam SENGUPTA\" src=\"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/en\/person-image\/NTAwMzEzODBfX0FudXBhbSBTRU5HVVBUQQ==\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/en\/person-image\/NTAwMzEzODBfX0FudXBhbSBTRU5HVVBUQQ==--thumbnail 150w,https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/en\/person-image\/NTAwMzEzODBfX0FudXBhbSBTRU5HVVBUQQ==--medium 300w,https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/en\/person-image\/NTAwMzEzODBfX0FudXBhbSBTRU5HVVBUQQ==--medium_large 768w,https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/en\/person-image\/NTAwMzEzODBfX0FudXBhbSBTRU5HVVBUQQ==--large 1024w,https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/en\/person-image\/NTAwMzEzODBfX0FudXBhbSBTRU5HVVBUQQ==--1536x1536 1536w,https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/en\/person-image\/NTAwMzEzODBfX0FudXBhbSBTRU5HVVBUQQ==--2048x2048 2048w\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><!-- end Image Component -->\n    <\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"quote-people__figcaption\">\n    <p class=\"quote-people__author\">Prof Anupam SENGUPTA<\/p>\n    <p class=\"quote-people__position\">Full Professor in Biological Physics, ERC &#8211; Consolidator Investigator and FNR ATTRACT Fellow<\/p>\n    <div class=\"wp-block-unilux-blocks-simple-cta wp-block-unilux-blocks-people-item-automated\">\n    <a\n        href=\"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/fstm-en\/people\/anupam-sengupta\/\"\n        title=\"Prof Anupam SENGUPTA\"\n        class=\"link-text link-text--icon quote-people__link\"\n        target=\"\"\n    >\n        <span class=\"link-text__body\">\n            <span class=\"link-text__name\">View profile<\/span>\n        <\/span>\n        <svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"icon icon-outline icon--arrow-right \"><use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/wp-content\/themes\/unilux-theme\/assets\/images\/icons\/icons-outline.svg#icon--arrow-right\"><\/use><\/svg>    <\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- end People Item Automated -->        <\/figure>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section><\/div><\/section>\n\n\n<section class=\"section section wp-block-unilux-blocks-quick-link-discover-section py-0\">\n    <div class=\"container xl:max-w-screen-xl\">\n        \n<h2 class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-unilux-blocks-heading\"        id=\"read-more-about\"\n    >\nRead more about&#8230;<\/h2>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-unilux-blocks-quick-link-discover quick-link-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-unilux-blocks-quick-link-discover-item\">\n    <a\n                    href=\"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/research-en\/eu-funding-high-profile-grants\/erc-grants\/\"\n                    class=\"quick-link\"\n            target=\"\"\n    >\n            <span class=\"quick-link__container\">\n                <span class=\"quick-link__text\">\n                    ERC Grants at Uni.lu                <\/span>\n                <svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"icon icon-outline icon--arrow-right \"><use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/wp-content\/themes\/unilux-theme\/assets\/images\/icons\/icons-outline.svg#icon--arrow-right\"><\/use><\/svg>            <\/span>\n    <\/a>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-unilux-blocks-quick-link-discover-item\">\n    <a\n                    href=\"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/fstm-en\/research-groups\/physics-of-living-matter\/\"\n                    class=\"quick-link\"\n            target=\"\"\n    >\n            <span class=\"quick-link__container\">\n                <span class=\"quick-link__text\">\n                    Physics of Living Matter research group                <\/span>\n                <svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"icon icon-outline icon--arrow-right 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<\/div>\n<\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":341,"featured_media":47848,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"featured_image_focal_point":{"x":0.57,"y":0.31},"show_featured_caption":true,"ulux_newsletter_groups":"","uluxPostTitle":"","uluxPrePostTitle":"","_trash_the_other_posts":false,"_price":"","_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"0","_ticket_start_date":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":false,"_tribe_ticket_use_global_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_global_stock_level":"","_global_stock_mode":"","_global_stock_cap":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_going_count":"","_tribe_ticket_not_going_count":"","_tribe_tickets_list":"[]","_tribe_ticket_has_attendee_info_fields":false},"news-category":[11],"news-topic":[28],"organisation":[32],"authorship":[341],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with 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