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Related Concept Videos

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The ciliary structures were first seen in 1647 by Antonie Leeuwenhoek while observing the protozoans. In lower organisms, these appendages are responsible for cell movement, while in higher organisms, these appendages help in the movement of the extracellular fluids within the body cavities.
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Microtubules are thick hollow cylindrical proteins that help form the cytoskeleton. Microtubules have varied roles in the cell. These filaments help form cellular appendages like cilia and flagella, which are responsible for locomotion. The cilia arise from basal bodies, separated from the main body by a membrane-like structure forming the transition zone. This zone is the gate for the entry of lipids and proteins, creating a unique composition of lipids and proteins in the ciliary membrane and...
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Alveolates are a group of organisms recognized by the presence of alveoli, which are cytoplasmic sacs located beneath the cell membrane. While their function remains uncertain, alveoli may help regulate water balance by controlling how much water enters and leaves the cell. In dinoflagellates, these structures may serve as armor plates. There are three major types of alveolates: ciliates, which move using cilia; dinoflagellates, which use flagella for movement; and apicomplexans, which are...
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Microvilli00:55

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Microvilli are tiny finger-like projections found on the surface of certain cells. Their purpose is to increase the surface area of the cell's apical surface, resulting in more effective absorption or secretion of substances.
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The primary cilium, made up of microtubules, acts as antennae on the cell surfaces for relaying external stimuli into the cells. These fine hair-like structures are present, generally one per cell. These are non-motile cilia in a 9+0 microtubules arrangement, where the central pair of microtubules are absent. The primary cilia arise from the basal body embedded in the cell membrane. Intraflagellar transport (IFT) carries requisite proteins from the cytoplasm to the cilium because the primary...
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Flagella are specialized, thread-like structures that extend from a bacteria's cell envelope. They play a crucial role in motility and chemotaxis. Their structural organization and functioning exemplify sophisticated biological engineering, enabling bacterial survival and adaptability in diverse environments.Structure of the FlagellumA bacterial flagellum consists of three key components: the filament, the hook, and basal body. The filament, a long, helical structure composed of repeating...
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Chemotactic Response of Marine Micro-Organisms to Micro-Scale Nutrient Layers
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Swimming microorganisms acquire optimal efficiency with multiple cilia.

Toshihiro Omori1, Hiroaki Ito2, Takuji Ishikawa2,3

  • 1Department of Finemechanics, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi 9808579, Japan; omori@bfsl.mech.tohoku.ac.jp.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|November 17, 2020
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Microbial motility, driven by cilia, impacts aquatic ecosystems. This study reveals that microorganisms optimize cilia number for maximum propulsion efficiency, crucial for survival and microswimmer design.

Keywords:
ciliahydrodynamicslow Reynolds numbermicroswimmer

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Fluid Dynamics
  • Ecology

Background:

  • Planktonic microorganisms are vital for aquatic ecosystems.
  • Motility via cilia/flagella influences microbial population dynamics.
  • The exact role of ciliary flow in microbial life is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of ciliary hydrodynamics in microbial propulsion efficiency.
  • To determine how body size and cilia number affect swimming velocity and efficiency.
  • To establish if existing microorganisms possess optimal ciliary configurations.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized ciliary hydrodynamics to model microbial propulsion.
  • Analyzed the relationship between body size, cilia density, and swimming velocity.
  • Calculated propulsion efficiency based on ciliary flow resistance.

Main Results:

  • Ciliary flow significantly resists propulsion, decreasing velocity with body size (to the power of -2).
  • Propulsion efficiency decreases cubically with body length.
  • Increasing cilia number can enhance efficiency up to 100-fold.
  • An optimal cilia density exists for maximum propulsion efficiency, inversely proportional to body length.

Conclusions:

  • Microorganisms achieve optimal propulsion efficiency through specific ciliary arrangements.
  • The estimated optimal cilia density matches that of extant ciliates and microalgae.
  • This optimization is key to the survival of motile microorganisms.
  • Findings inform the study of microbial ecology and the design of artificial microswimmers.