Use of a computer to assay motility in bacteria.
An assay was developed to study the movement of free-swimming Escherichia coli. Cells were videotaped through a microscope, and the videotape images were then digitized and analyzed with a computer. Angular and linear speeds were measured for wild-type E. coli and for a smooth and a tumbly mutant. The average angular and linear speeds of a population were directly and inversely proportional, respectively, to the time spent tumbling. Changes in angular and linear speeds were followed during the response of wild-type E. coli to attractant or repellent.
Sager
B M
BM
Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53706.
Sekelsky
J J
JJ
Matsumura
P
P
Adler
J
J
D002465:Cell Movement; D003470:Culture Media; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000254:growth & development; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008858:Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; D014741:Video Recording
D003470:Culture Media