Mathematical models for bacterial propulsion and pattern formation

研究者构建了细菌推进和模式形成的数学模型。 注意力主要集中在两类细菌上：粘细菌和柔膜菌。 这项工作是与从事这些生物研究的实验室合作或通信进行的。 这些模型主要是针对理解和解释他们的实验观察。 本项目的具体目标是：（i）粘细菌和柔膜菌的滑行机制，（ii）E.大肠杆菌和聚球藻，和（iii）聚集和子实体形成粘细菌。 研究人员开发了细菌移动的不同机制的数学和计算模型。 细菌利用许多不同的机制在表面和液体中移动。 “滑行”一词是用来描述细菌在没有可见的推进手段时在表面上的运动。 研究人员研究了这种神秘运动形式的分子和细胞机制。许多细菌靠鞭毛这种旋转的“推进器”游动。 然而，驱动该螺旋桨的电机机构还没有被设计出来，这是本项目的一个重点。 光合细菌，聚球藻，生活在海洋中，是地球上最丰富的生物。 它是如何游动的一直是个谜，因为它的表面没有可见的推进细胞器。 研究人员和他的同事们提出并模拟了这种细菌如何游泳的机制。 这些研究的广泛影响来自于它们对细菌的推进、发育和机械化学的深入了解，其中许多细菌是具有重大医学意义的重要病原体。

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.