Flow loading induces oscillatory trajectories in a bloodstream parasite.
Biophys J
; 103(6): 1162-9, 2012 Sep 19.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-22995488
ABSTRACT
The dynamics of isolated microswimmers are studied in bounded flow using the African trypanosome, a unicellular parasite, as the model organism. With the help of a microfluidics platform, cells are subjected to flow and found to follow an oscillatory path that is well fit by a sine wave. The frequency and amplitudes of the oscillatory trajectories are dependent on the flow velocity and cell orientation. When traveling in such a manner, trypanosomes orient upstream while downstream-facing cells tumble within the same streamline. A comparison with immotile trypanosomes demonstrates that self-propulsion is essential to the trajectories of trypanosomes even at flow velocities up to â¼40 times higher than their own swimming speed. These studies reveal important swimming dynamics that may be generally pertinent to the transport of microswimmers in flow and may be relevant to microbial pathogenesis.
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Trypanosoma brucei brucei
/
Sangue
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Hidrodinâmica
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2012
Tipo de documento:
Article