Mathematical models for bacterial propulsion and pattern formation

研究人员建立了细菌推进和模式形成的数学模型。人们的注意力主要集中在两类细菌上：粘细菌和软体动物。这项工作是与所有从事这些生物体研究的实验机构合作或通信进行的。这些模型主要是为了理解和解释他们的实验观察结果。该项目的具体目标是：(I)粘细菌和粘菌的滑动机制，(Ii)大肠杆菌和聚球藻的游泳机制，以及(Iii)粘细菌的聚集和子实体形成。这位研究人员开发了细菌运动的不同机制的数学和计算模型。细菌使用许多不同的机制在表面和液体中移动。“滑行”一词用来描述细菌在没有可见推进方式的情况下在表面上的运动。研究人员研究了这种神秘的运动形式背后的分子和细胞机制。许多细菌在旋转的被称为鞭毛的“推进器”的推动下游泳。然而，驱动这个推进器的发动机机构还没有被弄清楚，这是这个项目的一个焦点。光合作用细菌聚球藻生活在海洋中，构成了地球上最丰富的生物。它是如何游泳的是一个长期的谜，因为它的表面没有明显的推进细胞器。这位研究人员和他的同事们提出了一种这种细菌如何游泳的机制并建立了模型。这些研究的更广泛的影响来自于他们对细菌的推进、发育和机械力化学的洞察，其中许多是具有极大医学兴趣的重要病原体。

The investigator constructs mathematical models for bacterialpropulsion and pattern formation. Attention is restricted mostlyto two classes of bacteria: myxobacteria and mollicutes. This workis performed in collaboration or correspondence with experimentallaboratories engaged in studies of these organisms. The models areprimarily directed towards understanding and explaining theirexperimental observations. The specific goals of this project are tomodel (i) the gliding mechanisms of Myxobacteria and Mollicutes, (ii)the swimming mechanisms of E. coli and Synechococcus, and (iii)aggregation and fruiting body formation in Myxobacteria. The investigator develops mathematical and computational modelsof different mechanisms by which bacteria move. Bacteria usemany different mechanisms to move about on surfaces and throughfluids. The term "gliding" is used to describe the motion ofbacteria on surfaces when there is no visible means ofpropulsion. The investigator studies the molecular and cellularmechanisms that underlie this mysterious form of locomotion. Many bacteria swim, driven by rotating "propellors" calledflagella. However, the motor mechanism that turns this propellorhas not been worked out, and is a focus of this project. Thephotosynthetic bacterium, Synechococcus, lives in the oceans, andconstitutes the most abundant organism on the planet. How itswims is a longstanding mystery, for it has no visible propulsiveorganelle on its surface. The investigator and his colleaguessuggest and model a mechanism for how this bacterium swims. Thebroader impact of these studies grows from the insights theyprovide into the propulsion, development, and mechanochemistry ofbacteria, many of which are important pathogens of great medicalinterest.