The dynamics of swimming microorganisms is strongly affected by solid-liquid and air-liquid interfaces. In this paper, we characterize the motion of both single bacteria and microcolonies at an air-liquid interface. Both of them follow circular trajectories. Single bacteria preferentially show a counter-clockwise motion, in agreement with previous experimental and theoretical findings. Instead, no preferential rotation direction is observed for microcolonies suggesting that their motion is due to a different physical mechanism. We propose a simple mechanical model where the microcolonies move like rafts constrained to the air-liquid interface. Finally, we observed that the microcolony growth is due to the aggregation of colliding single-swimmers, suggesting that the microcolony formation resembles a condensation process where the first nucleus originates by the collision between two single-swimmers. Implications of microcolony splitting and aggregation on biofilm growth and dispersion at air-liquid interface are discussed.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5822344 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/mbo3.532 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Design, additive manufacturing, and characterization of an organ-on-chip microfluidic device for oral mucosa analogue growth.
J Mech Behav Biomed Mater
December 2024
Department of Prosthodontics, Dental and Craniofacial Bioengineering and Applied Biomaterials, School of Dentistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, 54124, Greece. Electronic address:
Introduction: Α customized organ-on-a-chip microfluidic device was developed for dynamic culture of oral mucosa equivalents (Oral_mucosa_chip-OMC).
Materials And Methods: Additive Manufacturing (AM) was performed via stereolithography (SLA) printing. The dimensional accuracy was evaluated via microfocus computed tomography (mCT), the surface characteristics via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), while the mechanical properties via nanoindentation and compression tests.
In Obesity, Esophagogastric Junction Fat Impairs Esophageal Barrier Function and Dilates Intercellular Spaces via HIF-2α.
Gastroenterology
December 2024
Department of Medicine, Center for Esophageal Diseases, Baylor University Medical Center and Center for Esophageal Research, Baylor Scott & White Research Institute, Dallas, TX. Electronic address:
Background & Aims: Dilated intercellular space (DIS) in esophageal epithelium, a sign of impaired barrier function, is a characteristic finding of GERD that also is found in obese patients without GERD. We have explored molecular mechanisms whereby adipose tissue products might impair esophageal barrier integrity.
Methods: We established cultures of visceral fat obtained during foregut surgery from obese and non-obese patients.
Bronchoscopic biopsies - a novel source for primary airway epithelial cells in respiratory research.
Respir Res
December 2024
Department of Pulmonary Medicine, University Medical Center Essen, Ruhrlandklinik, Essen, Germany.
Background: Using primary airway epithelial cells (AEC) is essential to mimic more closely different types and stages of lung disease in humans while reducing or even replacing animal experiments. Access to lung tissue remains limited because these samples are generally obtained from patients who undergo lung transplantation for end-stage lung disease or thoracic surgery for (mostly) lung cancer. We investigated whether forceps or cryo biopsies are a viable alternative source of AEC compared to the conventional technique.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSimple-Flow: A 3D-Printed Multiwell Flow Plate to Coculture Primary Human Lung Cells at the Air-Liquid Interface.
ACS Biomater Sci Eng
December 2024
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Sophia Children's Hospital, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam 3000 CB, The Netherlands.
Immortalized epithelial cell lines and animal models have been used in fundamental and preclinical research to study pulmonary diseases. However valuable, though, these models incompletely recapitulate the human lung, which leads to low predictive outcomes in potential respiratory treatments. Advanced technology and cell culture techniques stimulate the development of improved models that more closely mimic the physiology of the human lung.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEffect of hydrophobic proteins in modulating the mechanical properties of lung surfactant membranes.
Chem Phys Lipids
December 2024
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain; Research Institute Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain.
Pulmonary surfactant is a membranous complex that enables breathing dynamics at the respiratory surface. Extremely low values of surface tension are achieved at end-expiration thanks to a unique mixture of lipids and proteins. In particular, the hydrophobic surfactant proteins, specially the protein SP-B, are crucial for surfactant biophysical function, in order to provide the surfactant lipid matrix with the ability to form membranous multi-layered interfacial films that sustain optimal mechanical properties.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!