Prokaryotic flagellum is considered as the only known example of a biological “wheel,” system capable converting action rotatory actuator into continuous propulsive force. For this reason, flagella are an interesting case study in soft robotics and they represent appealing source inspiration for design underwater robots. A great number flagellum-inspired devices exists, but these ...

BACKGROUND The flagellate protozoan parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi, is a causative agent of Chagas disease that is transmitted by reduviid bugs to humans. The parasite exists in multiple morphological forms in both vector and host, and cell differentiation in T. cruzi is tightly associated with stage-specific protein synthesis and degradation. However, the specific molecular mechanisms responsible...

Non-flagellate H2 mutants were isolated from a phase-2 stable strain, SJW806 H1-gt- H2-enxon vh2-, a derivative of Salmonella typhimurium. By transductional crosses a deletion map and a recombination map of the H2 gene were made. There are three regions especially rich in nonflagellate mutational sites. By the use of the deletion map, mutational sites of 21 flagellar shape mutants were also det...

Seven stains were studied to determine the best color and contrast for staining the developmental stages of free living pathogenic Acanthamoeba and Naegleria species. The acid-fast bacilli stain (AFB) produced a blue color without contrast; trichrome-eosin and modified Field's showed various color contrasts; Giemsa, iron-hematoxylin, modified AFB and Gram produced only one color which distingui...

BACKGROUND Classically, estuarine planktonic research has focussed largely on the physico-chemical drivers of community assemblages leaving a paucity of information on important biological interactions. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Within the context of trophic cascades, various treatments using in situ mesocosms were established in a closed estuary to highlight the importance of predation ...

We compared the relative importance of dietary factors versus de novo synthesis in determining the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) composition of the heterotrophic nanoflagellate Paraphysomonas sp. The flagellate was fed with different mutants of the picocyanobacterial strain Synechocystis PCC6803, which differ in their capability to synthesize specific PUFAs. The desA, desB, and desD genes o...