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Science & Tech.
Pradeep Kumar

31/07/21 10:25 AM IST

Reversing motion of bacteria

In news

In a recent study, Indian Scientists have found a theoretical model explaining a unique kind of motion called direction reversing active motion exhibited by some bacteria that feed on other microorganisms.

Details of the study
  • This analysis can help in building more efficient artificial micro and nano-motors used in drug delivery and bio-imaging using the concept to incorporate a reverse gear.
  • Bacteria move by propelling themselves with a velocity that changes direction randomly, which is called active motion.
  • Besides bacterial motion, this kind of motion is found in living systems ranging from cell motility at the microscopic scale to the flocking of birds and fish schools at the macroscopic scale as well as in artificial systems including granular matter self-catalytic swimmers, and nano-motors. 
  • It forms an important sub-set of the ubiquitous nonequilibrium systems, for which no general theoretical framework exists.
  • Some microorganisms, such as predator bacteria Myxococcus Xanthus and saprotrophic bacteria Pseudomonas putida, exhibit a unique kind of reversing active motion, whereby, in addition to a diffusive change of direction, the motion also completely reverses its direction intermittently.
  • However, very little has been understood theoretically about the statistical properties of such motion.
Source: PIB

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