Differential dynamic microscopy of bacterial motility

Phys Rev Lett. 2011 Jan 7;106(1):018101. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.106.018101. Epub 2011 Jan 5.

Abstract

We demonstrate a method for the fast, high-throughput characterization of the dynamics of active particles. Specifically, we measure the swimming speed distribution and motile cell fraction in Escherichia coli suspensions. By averaging over ∼10(4) cells, our method is highly accurate compared to conventional tracking, yielding a routine tool for motility characterization. We find that the diffusivity of nonmotile cells is enhanced in proportion to the concentration of motile cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Escherichia coli / cytology*
  • Escherichia coli / physiology*
  • Light
  • Microscopy / methods*
  • Movement
  • Scattering, Radiation