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Updated: Jul 18, 2026
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The Assembly and Application of 'Shear Rings': A Novel Endothelial Model for Orbital, Unidirectional and Periodic Fluid Flow and Shear Stress
Published on: October 31, 2016
Novel quantitative biosystem for modeling physiological fluid shear stress on cells
Eric A Nauman1, C Mark Ott, Ed Sander
1School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-2088, USA.
Applied and Environmental Microbiology
|December 5, 2006
Summary
This study introduces a novel bioreactor system to culture microbes under physiologically relevant fluid shear forces. This method reveals how fluid shear impacts microbial genetic and phenotypic responses, aiding in pathogen research.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Biotechnology
- Pathogen Research
Background:
- Microbial responses to fluid shear are critical during infection.
- Existing culture methods often fail to replicate in vivo fluid shear conditions.
- Understanding shear-induced microbial changes can reveal new therapeutic targets.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a batch culture biosystem for culturing microbes under controlled, physiologically relevant fluid shear.
- To quantify fluid shear forces within the bioreactor using mathematical models and simulations.
- To investigate the genomic and phenotypic responses of microbial pathogens to varying fluid shear levels.
Main Methods:
- Developed a rotating wall vessel (RWV) bioreactor system for batch microbial culture.
- Created a quantitative model using numerical simulations and in situ imaging to calculate fluid shear.
- Cultured Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium under three distinct physiological fluid shear ranges.
- Analyzed microbial genomic and phenotypic changes in response to applied fluid shear.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated a progressive relationship between applied fluid shear and microbial genetic/phenotypic responses.
- The novel biosystem allows for variation and quantification of fluid shear within physiologically relevant ranges.
- Identified shear-dependent changes in Salmonella Typhimurium relevant to host-pathogen interactions.
Conclusions:
- The developed biosystem and model enable the study of microbial responses to physiologically relevant fluid shear.
- This approach can uncover previously unidentified microbial genes and proteins involved in cellular interactions.
- Findings offer potential for developing new vaccine and therapeutic targets against bacterial pathogens.
