Presenter: Lauren Helena Daniel Moran

Faculty Sponsor: Shuang Zhou

School: UMass Amherst

Research Area: Physics

Session: Poster Session 6, 4:15 PM - 5:00 PM, 163, C13

ABSTRACT

The dynamics produced by the swimming of parasitic Crithidia fasciculata are understudied, making these microorganisms crucial for understanding the underlying physics of their locomotion. C. fasciculata are known as “puller” swimmers, meaning their front-mounted flagellum lead their motion, distinct from better known “pusher” swimmers such as E. coli and spermatozoa with the propeller behind the body. Through defocused particle imaging microscopy tracking of dyed fluorescent dyed particles attached to different parts of the body and flagellum of C. fasciculata, we obtain three dimensional data to analyze their trajectory and body dynamics. Particle image velocimetry (PIV) are used to better understand resulting flow fields surrounding the swimmers. This study of C. fasciculata paves the way for more knowledge about parasites and their motility, flagellar structure, and locomotion in a diverse array of circumstances. Furthermore, understanding the locomotion of C. fasciculata can support vector analysis illustrating parasite transmission dynamics, since our findings can lead to a clearer view of their colonization and transmission, as in other pathogenic species.