Join us for this fascinating QUBIC Seminar Series event.

Al-empowered Live Cell Imaging for High-Throughput Organelles’ Interactome Discovery

Speaker: Dr Le (Leo) Zhang, UTS
Date: Wednesday 21 May, 1pm – 2pm AEST
Zoom: Click here to join the seminar

Abstract
Across the Tree of Life, organelles orchestrate cellular behaviour through dynamic interactions. By combining advanced imaging, machine learning, and biophysical analysis, IBMD aims to uncover how organelles coordinate cellular functions under both physiological and mechanical cues. Recent advances from our laboratory reveal that even in prokaryotes, specialized structures govern drug transport and membrane permeability, as demonstrated by the development of the Hydrophobic Agents Permeability Assay (HAPA) in Gram-negative bacteria. In yeast, long-term live-cell imaging integrated with machine learning-based denoising enables precise tracking of organelle redistribution during proliferation. In mammalian cells, the use of polarity-sensitive dyes and AI-enhanced segmentation has allowed the construction of high-resolution organelle interaction networks. A particular focus has been placed on mitochondria, where mechanical forces were found to reshape energy metabolism, calcium homeostasis, and organelle contact dynamics through the mechanosensitive ion channel Piezo1. Mechanical stimulation not only regulates mitochondrial function but also orchestrates fission events via ER-mediated guidance and calcium-driven self-organization. Together, these studies establish a platform that leverages AI-powered live-cell imaging to map organelle interactomes with unprecedented detail. This approach opens a new direction for understanding how dynamic organelle networks sustain cellular health, adapt to mechanical forces, and contribute to processes such as aging and disease across diverse biological systems.

Bio
Dr Le (Leo) Zhang is a researcher specializing in AI-assisted live-cell imaging, organelle mechanobiology, and advanced biosensing technologies. His scientific journey began with a master’s degree in Pharmaceutical Science at Rutgers University, USA. He then pursued a PhD in Biophotonics and Cell Biology at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) under the mentorship of ARC Laureate Professor Dayong Jin. In 2021, he joined the Institute for Biomedical Materials and Devices (IBMD) at UTS, where he currently leads the bioimaging research theme. His research bridges basic science and translational technology, leveraging breakthroughs in molecular cell biology and super-resolution microscopy. He has published 23 articles and one book chapter, with 87.5% in Q1 journals and 10 as first or corresponding author. He has secured over $3.1 million in competitive funding, including ARC LIEF grants and NSW Dust Diseases Board funding. From 2020 to 2023, Dr Zhang led the development of rapid SARS-CoV-2 antigen tests using upconversion imaging, culminating in the commercialization of the Virulizer. This work earned multiple awards, including the Best New Invention Award at the KCA Australasian Research Commercialisation Awards 2022. During his PhD, he also pioneered super-resolution imaging of bacterial DNA repair, with imaging resolutions reaching ~20 nm, contributing to an ESI Highly Cited Perspective. Currently, Dr Zhang serves as Facility Manager (ARC LIEF Grant LE250100063) and Associate Investigator in the ARC Centre of Excellence in QUBIC, focusing on AI-powered imaging of intracellular organelle networks and the mechanobiology of organelle interactions.