Title: Biophysical study on bacterial motility and adhesion

Presenter: Jay X. Tang

University: Physics Department, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA

Time: 15:00-16:00, SEP 2, 2016

Venue: Room A203, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Abstract: Microbes inhabit planet earth over billions of years and have adapted to diverse physical environments, particularly at or near interfaces. A uni-flagellated bacterium,Caulobacter crescentus, is a species of choice by microbiologists to study cell differentiation and genetic regulation. From the perspective of fluid and surface physics, I will discuss our study on the motility of C. crescentus swarmer cells, their accumulation and motility near interfaces, and their adhesion to solid surfaces. I will also briefly report our new study on bacterial swarming, using Pseudomonas aeruginosa as a model system. The broader goal of our study is to elucidate interfacial microbial functions through imaging, data analysis, and mathematical modeling and computer simulations based on fluid and soft matter physics. By understanding the mechanisms diverse species of motile bacteria have adopted through the course of evolution, we seek to gain insights useful towards environmental and biomedical applications