14081
2011
eng
e1002058
6
7
article
1
2016-11-25
--
--
Impact of Microscopic Motility on the Swimming Behavior of Parasites: Straighter Trypanosomes are More Directional
Microorganisms, particularly parasites, have developed sophisticated swimming mechanisms to cope with a varied range of environments. African Trypanosomes, causative agents of fatal illness in humans and animals, use an insect vector (the Tsetse fly) to infect mammals, involving many developmental changes in which cell motility is of prime importance. Our studies reveal that differences in cell body shape are correlated with a diverse range of cell behaviors contributing to the directional motion of the cell. Straighter cells swim more directionally while cells that exhibit little net displacement appear to be more bent. Initiation of cell division, beginning with the emergence of a second flagellum at the base, correlates to directional persistence. Cell trajectory and rapid body fluctuation correlation analysis uncovers two characteristic relaxation times: a short relaxation time due to strong body distortions in the range of 20 to 80 ms and a longer time associated with the persistence in average swimming direction in the order of 15 seconds. Different motility modes, possibly resulting from varying body stiffness, could be of consequence for host invasion during distinct infective stages.
PLoS Computational Biology
10.1371/journal.pcbi.1002058
urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-140814
PLoS Comput Biol 7(6): e1002058. doi:10.1371/journal.pcbi.1002058
Sravanti Uppaluri
Jan Nagler
Eric Stellamanns
Niko Heddergott
Stephan Herminghaus
Thomas Pfohl
Markus Engstler
eng
uncontrolled
African Trypanosomes
eng
uncontrolled
Cell Motility
eng
uncontrolled
Random-Walk
eng
uncontrolled
Brucei
eng
uncontrolled
Components
eng
uncontrolled
Flagellum
eng
uncontrolled
Biology
eng
uncontrolled
Motion
eng
uncontrolled
Chemotaxis
eng
uncontrolled
Movement
Biowissenschaften; Biologie
open_access
Theodor-Boveri-Institut für Biowissenschaften
Universität Würzburg
https://opus.bibliothek.uni-wuerzburg.de/files/14081/074_Uppaluri_PLOS-COMPUTATIONAL-BIOLOGY.PDF
13459
2012
eng
e1003023
11
8
article
1
2016-06-09
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Trypanosome Motion Represents an Adaptation to the Crowded Environment of the Vertebrate Bloodstream
Blood is a remarkable habitat: it is highly viscous, contains a dense packaging of cells and perpetually flows at velocities varying over three orders of magnitude. Only few pathogens endure the harsh physical conditions within the vertebrate bloodstream and prosper despite being constantly attacked by host antibodies. African trypanosomes are strictly extracellular blood parasites, which evade the immune response through a system of antigenic variation and incessant motility. How the flagellates actually swim in blood remains to be elucidated. Here, we show that the mode and dynamics of trypanosome locomotion are a trait of life within a crowded environment. Using high-speed fluorescence microscopy and ordered micro-pillar arrays we show that the parasites mode of motility is adapted to the density of cells in blood. Trypanosomes are pulled forward by the planar beat of the single flagellum. Hydrodynamic flow across the asymmetrically shaped cell body translates into its rotational movement. Importantly, the presence of particles with the shape, size and spacing of blood cells is required and sufficient for trypanosomes to reach maximum forward velocity. If the density of obstacles, however, is further increased to resemble collagen networks or tissue spaces, the parasites reverse their flagellar beat and consequently swim backwards, in this way avoiding getting trapped. In the absence of obstacles, this flagellar beat reversal occurs randomly resulting in irregular waveforms and apparent cell tumbling. Thus, the swimming behavior of trypanosomes is a surprising example of micro-adaptation to life at low Reynolds numbers. For a precise physical interpretation, we compare our high-resolution microscopic data to results from a simulation technique that combines the method of multi-particle collision dynamics with a triangulated surface model. The simulation produces a rotating cell body and a helical swimming path, providing a functioning simulation method for a microorganism with a complex swimming strategy.
PLoS Pathogens
10.1371/journal.ppat.1003023
urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-134595
PLoS Pathogens 8(11): e1003023. doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1003023
Niko Heddergott
Timothy Krüger
Sujin B. Babu
Ai Wei
Erik Stellamanns
Sravanti Uppaluri
Thomas Pfohl
Holger Stark
Markus Engstler
eng
uncontrolled
simulation
eng
uncontrolled
multiparticle collision dynamics
eng
uncontrolled
propulsion
eng
uncontrolled
viscosity
eng
uncontrolled
flagellar
eng
uncontrolled
motility
eng
uncontrolled
solvent
eng
uncontrolled
model
eng
uncontrolled
hydrodynamics
eng
uncontrolled
spiroplasma
Medizin und Gesundheit
open_access
Theodor-Boveri-Institut für Biowissenschaften
Universität Würzburg
6666
2012
eng
article
1
2013-06-11
--
--
Trypanosome Motion Represents an Adaptation to the Crowded Environment ofthe Vertebrate Bloodstream
Blood is a remarkable habitat: it is highly viscous, contains a dense packaging of cells and perpetually flows at velocities varying over three orders of magnitude. Only few pathogens endure the harsh physical conditions within the vertebrate bloodstream and prosper despite being constantly attacked by host antibodies. African trypanosomes are strictly extracellular blood parasites, which evade the immune response through a system of antigenic variation and incessant motility. How the flagellates actually swim in blood remains to be elucidated. Here, we show that the mode and dynamics of trypanosome locomotion are a trait of life within a crowded environment. Using high-speed fluorescence microscopy and ordered micro-pillar arrays we show that the parasites mode of motility is adapted to the density of cells in blood. Trypanosomes are pulled forward by the planar beat of the single flagellum. Hydrodynamic flow across the asymmetrically shaped cell body translates into its rotational movement. Importantly, the presence of particles with the shape, size and spacing of blood cells is required and sufficient for trypanosomes to reach maximum forward velocity. If the density of obstacles, however, is further increased to resemble collagen networks or tissue spaces, the parasites reverse their flagellar beat and consequently swim backwards, in this way avoiding getting trapped. In the absence of obstacles, this flagellar beat reversal occurs randomly resulting in irregular waveforms and apparent cell tumbling. Thus, the swimming behavior of trypanosomes is a surprising example of micro-adaptation to life at low Reynolds numbers. For a precise physical interpretation, we compare our high-resolution microscopic data to results from a simulation technique that combines the method of multi-particle collision dynamics with a triangulated surface model. The simulation produces a rotating cell body and a helical swimming path, providing a functioning simulation method for a microorganism with a complex swimming strategy
urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-78421
7842
In: PLoS Pathogens (2012) 8(11): e1003023. doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1003023
Nico Heddergott
Timothy Krüger
Sujin B. Babu
Ai Wei
Erik Stellamanns
Sravanti Uppaluri
Thomas Pfohl
Holger Stark
Markus Engstler
deu
swd
Biologie
Biowissenschaften; Biologie
open_access
Theodor-Boveri-Institut für Biowissenschaften
Universität Würzburg
https://opus.bibliothek.uni-wuerzburg.de/files/6666/090_journal.ppat.1003023.pdf
11534
2014
eng
6515
4
article
1
2015-07-06
--
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Optical trapping reveals propulsion forces, power generation and motility efficiency of the unicellular parasites Trypanosoma brucei brucei
Unicellular parasites have developed sophisticated swimming mechanisms to survive in a wide range of environments. Cell motility of African trypanosomes, parasites responsible for fatal illness in humans and animals, is crucial both in the insect vector and the mammalian host. Using millisecond-scale imaging in a microfluidics platform along with a custom made optical trap, we are able to confine single cells to study trypanosome motility. From the trapping characteristics of the cells, we determine the propulsion force generated by cells with a single flagellum as well as of dividing trypanosomes with two fully developed flagella. Estimates of the dissipative energy and the power generation of single cells obtained from the motility patterns of the trypanosomes within the optical trap indicate that specific motility characteristics, in addition to locomotion, may be required for antibody clearance. Introducing a steerable second optical trap we could further measure the force, which is generated at the flagellar tip. Differences in the cellular structure of the trypanosomes are correlated with the trapping and motility characteristics and in consequence with their propulsion force, dissipative energy and power generation.
Scientific Reports
10.1038/srep06515
2045-2322
25269514
urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-115348
Scientific Reports 4, 6515; DOI:10.1038/srep06515 (2014)
Eric Stellamanns
Sravanti Uppaluri
Axel Hochstetter
Niko Heddergott
Markus Engstler
Thomas Pfohl
eng
uncontrolled
African Trypanosomes
eng
uncontrolled
components
eng
uncontrolled
bacteria
eng
uncontrolled
brain
Biowissenschaften; Biologie
open_access
Theodor-Boveri-Institut für Biowissenschaften
Universität Würzburg
https://opus.bibliothek.uni-wuerzburg.de/files/11534/041_Stellamanns_Scient_Reports.pdf