Research
by scientists into why some bacteria have different shapes has found that a
curved shape can make it easier to find food. Computer simulations were used to
compare the swimming of differently shaped bacteria. Results showed that a
curved shape can be beneficial for efficient swimming and for finding food
through the use of chemical trails (known as chemotaxis) - but at the expense
of higher cell construction costs.
Life
Sciences researchers at the University of Lincoln conducted computer
simulations to compare the swimming of differently shaped bacteria. Results
showed that a curved shape can be beneficial for efficient swimming and for
finding food through the use of chemical trails (known as chemotaxis) -- but at
the expense of higher cell construction costs.
This
indicates that some bacteria species may balance the cost and benefits of their
shape, depending on their environment and activity levels.
Before
now it has not been understood what determines the different shapes of
bacteria. While the shape of large creatures is driven by the effects of
gravity and streamlining, for microscopic organisms these do not have such an
impact.
Prof.
Stuart Humphries, Professor of Evolutionary Biophysics at the University of
Lincoln, said: "This work opens the door to asking a number of questions,
for instance whether disease-causing bacteria have different shapes, or if
different cell shapes improve the abilities of microbes we harness for
industrial purposes."
READ MORE: Cilia: 'The bouncer' of bacteria
READ MORE: Cilia: 'The bouncer' of bacteria
Prof.
David Smith, Professor of Applied Mathematics at the University of Birmingham
said: "This research shows how state of the art maths and supercomputing
simulation, used alongside extensive survey of a wealth of microscopy data,
enables us to explore and explain aspects of the immense diversity of the
living world which have hitherto been impossible."
See:
Posted by Dr. Tim Sandle, Pharmaceutical Microbiology
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Pharmaceutical Microbiology