Studying and directing the motility of bacterial cells in microfabricated channels.
The most widespread mode of bacterial motility is swimming driven by helical propellers, the
flagella. Motility is enabling cells to actively explore their environment, to colonize new habitats, and spread within host organisms. Many aspects of it are still not fully understood, such as the formation
of multi-flagellar bundles and the swimming of cells in highly confining environments (soil, tissues,
etc.). Within this PhD topic we aim to experimentally study these aspects. We will characterize the
hydrodynamic coupling between rotating flagella and examine its role in facilitating synchronous
rotation. We will observe cells swimming into narrow passages, and determine whether the
interaction between the cell’s flow field and the surrounding surfaces can autonomously steer cells
into them. Furthermore, we will examine possible ways to influence the distribution of motile cells in
a microchannel by micropatterning the channel walls. We will use the method of two-photon
polymerization to create the microchannels for our experiments, and laser light-sheet fluorescence
microscopy to observe the rotating flagella of the cells.
Required language skills: English Further requirements: TDK munka
Number of students who can be accepted: 3
Deadline for application: 2024-12-31
2024. IV. 17. ODT ülés Az ODT következő ülésére 2024. június 14-én, pénteken 10.00 órakor kerül sor a Semmelweis Egyetem Szenátusi termében (Bp. Üllői út 26. I. emelet).
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