Stokesian dynamics simulations of a magnetotactic bacterium

3Citations
Citations of this article
21Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.

This article is free to access.

Abstract

Abstract: The swimming of bacteria provides insight into propulsion and steering under the conditions of low-Reynolds number hydrodynamics. Here we address the magnetically steered swimming of magnetotactic bacteria. We use Stokesian dynamics simulations to study the swimming of single-flagellated magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) in an external magnetic field. Our model MTB consists of a spherical cell body equipped with a magnetic dipole moment and a helical flagellum rotated by a rotary motor. The elasticity of the flagellum as well as magnetic and hydrodynamic interactions is taken into account in this model. We characterized how the swimming velocity is dependent on parameters of the model. We then studied the U-turn motion after a field reversal and found two regimes for weak and strong fields and, correspondingly, two characteristic time scales. In the two regimes, the U-turn time is dominated by the turning of the cell body and its magnetic moment or the turning of the flagellum, respectively. In the regime for weak fields, where turning is dominated by the magnetic relaxation, the U-turn time is approximately in agreement with a theoretical model based on torque balance. In the strong-field regime, strong deformations of the flagellum are observed. We further simulated the swimming of a bacterium with a magnetic moment that is inclined relative to the flagellar axis. This scenario leads to intriguing double helical trajectories that we characterize as functions of the magnetic moment inclination and the magnetic field. For small inclination angles (≲ 20 ∘) and typical field strengths, the inclination of the magnetic moment has only a minor effect on the swimming of MTB in an external magnetic field. Large inclination angles result in a strong reduction in the velocity in direction of the magnetic field, consistent with recent observations that bacteria with large inclination angles use a different propulsion mechanism. Graphic abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]

References Powered by Scopus

Active particles in complex and crowded environments

2140Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

The hydrodynamics of swimming microorganisms

1952Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Chemotaxis in Escherichia coli analysed by three-dimensional tracking

1650Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Cited by Powered by Scopus

Editorial: Motile active matter

3Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

A numerical method for the locomotion of bi-flagellated bacteria in viscous fluid

1Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Experimental determination of the propulsion matrix of the body of helical Magnetospirillum magneticum cells

1Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Mohammadinejad, S., Faivre, D., & Klumpp, S. (2021). Stokesian dynamics simulations of a magnetotactic bacterium. European Physical Journal E, 44(3). https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/s10189-021-00038-5

Readers' Seniority

Tooltip

Researcher 5

50%

PhD / Post grad / Masters / Doc 4

40%

Lecturer / Post doc 1

10%

Readers' Discipline

Tooltip

Materials Science 3

30%

Physics and Astronomy 3

30%

Sports and Recreations 2

20%

Mathematics 2

20%

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free