Does Helicobacter Pylori Exhibit Corkscrew Motion While Swimming?

Speaker: Maira Constantino

When: January 16, 2015 (Fri), 02:00PM to 03:00PM (add to my calendar)
Location: SCI 352

This event is part of the Preliminary Oral Exam.

Examining Committee: Rama Bansil, Shyamsunder Erramilli, Kirill Korolev and Kevin Black

Abstract:

Helicobacter pylori is a spiral shaped bacterium associated with ulcers, gastric cancer, gastritis among other diseases. In order to colonize the harsh acidic environment of the stomach the bacterium has to go across the gastric mucus layer. Many studies have been conducted on the swimming of H. pylori however none have studied the trajectory path. We present an experimental study of the swimming trajectory of H. pylori by a quantitative analysis of the bacterium rotation and translation using phase contrast microscopy and particle tracking techniques. We also measure the bacterium body parameters simultaneously with the trajectory, allowing for the first time to test the validity of theoretical models of the swim of H. pylori. Our measurements show very well defined helical trajectories, from which we measure the body rotation.

Maira