Protozoan migration in bent microfluidic channels.
Microfluidic devices permit direct observation of microbial behavior in defined microstructured settings. Here, the swimming speed and dispersal of individual marine ciliates in straight and bent microfluidic channels were quantified. The dispersal rate and swimming speed increased with channel width, decreased with protozoan size, and was significantly impacted by the channel turning angle.
Wang
Wei
W
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Box 1831 Station B, Nashville, TN 37235, USA.
Shor
Leslie M
LM
LeBoeuf
Eugene J
EJ
Wikswo
John P
JP
Taghon
Gary L
GL
Kosson
David S
DS
D000818:Animals; D016798:Ciliophora / Q000502:physiology; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000502:physiology*; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*