Helical and rod-shaped bacteria swim in helical trajectories with little additional propulsion from helical shape.

ABSTRACT: It has frequently been hypothesized that the helical body shapes of flagellated bacteria may yield some advantage in swimming ability. In particular, the helical-shaped pathogen Helicobacter pylori is often claimed to swim like a corkscrew through its harsh gastric habitat, but there has been no direct confirmation or quantification of such claims. Using fast time-resolution and high-magnification two-dimensional (2D) phase-contrast microscopy to simultaneously image and track individual bacteria in bacterial broth as well as mucin solutions, we show that both helical and rod-shaped H. pylori rotated as they swam, producing a helical trajectory. Cell shape analysis enabled us to determine shape as well as the rotational and translational speed for both forward and reverse mot

SUBMITTER: Constantino MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5262464 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature