Document Type

Article

Abstract

We present a single-cell motility assay, which allows the quantification of bacterial swimming in a well-controlled environment, for durations of up to an hour and with a temporal resolution greater than the flagellar rotation rates of ∼100 Hz. The assay is based on an instrument combining optical tweezers, light and fluorescence microscopy, and a microfluidic chamber. Using this device we characterized the long-term statistics of the run-tumble time series in individual Escherichia coli cells. We also quantified higher-order features of bacterial swimming, such as changes in velocity and reversals of swimming direction.

Publication Date

January 2009

Publication Title

Nature Methods

ISSN

15487091

Volume

6

Issue

11

First Page

831

Last Page

835

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1038/nmeth.1380

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