Continuum mechanics approach to shape and motility of filamentous

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We have developed the general theoretical method to study nonlinear and nonequilibirum dynamics of elastic filaments in a viscous fluid. The method was applied to the problems of polymorphic transition kinetics of bacterial flagella filaments and of the swimming motility of helical-shaped bacterial cells. We have successfully obtained quantitative understandings on those problems. Comparison of our results to available experimental data suggests that the physical and mechanics point of view is indeed important to reveal "design principle" of shapes of microscopic life.