Acoustic tethering of microorganisms.

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Biophysics
• Microfluidics

Background:

• Observing individual microorganisms' behavior is crucial for understanding cellular functions.
• Traditional methods often face challenges in maintaining cell position and focus for high-magnification studies.
• Acoustic manipulation offers a non-invasive approach for controlling microscopic particles and cells.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel, accessible setup for acoustically tethering microorganisms.
• To demonstrate the application of this setup for detailed behavioral observations.
• To assess the impact of acoustic tethering on microorganism motility and flagellar function.

Main Methods:

• Construction of a simple acoustic tethering device using standard laboratory equipment.
• Integration of the device with a conventional light microscope for high-magnification imaging.
• Utilizing the setup to immobilize and observe the dinoflagellate Alexandrium minutum.

Main Results:

• Successfully tethered individual microorganisms in the focal plane of the microscope.
• Enabled high-magnification behavioral observations without altering flagellar beat frequencies.
• Demonstrated the capability of the setup with Alexandrium minutum, a freely swimming dinoflagellate.

Conclusions:

• The acoustic tethering setup provides a viable, non-invasive method for studying microorganism behavior.
• The technique is adaptable for diverse cell types, including flagellates and ciliates of various sizes.
• This method opens new avenues for research into microbial swimming kinematics and appendage motion.