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Cytophaga beads

Species name: Cytophaga sp.

Harvard UniversityDepartment of Molecular and Cellular BiologyHarvard Biological Labs Howard C. Berg

Cells of Cytophaga sp. strain U67 move over glass by an unknown mechanism at about 2 µm/s. If latex beads are added, they move lengthwise along the cell surface (whether the cell is on glass or not) at about the same speed. The beads move in either direction, passing each other going in opposite directions, even if on the same side of the cell. The movie shows this phenomenon with beads 0.56 µm dia. When a large aggregate (or blob) of smaller beads (0.13 µm dia.) moves along a cell, it can complete a full cycle up and back, returning to its original position and orientation.

McBride, M.J. Bacterial gliding motility: multiple mechanisms for cell movement. Annu. Rev. Microbiol. 55, 49-75 (2001).
Mignot, T., Shaevitz, J.W., Hartzell, P.L. and Zusman, D.R. Evidence that focal adhesion complexes power bacterial gliding motility. Science 315, 853-856 (2007).

(2014.03.19)

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