Aggregation of adult parasitic nematodes in sex-mixed groups analysed by transient anomalous diffusion formalism

verfasst von
Ruth Leben, Sebastian Rausch, Laura Elomaa, Anja E. Hauser, Marie Weinhart, Sabine C. Fischer, Holger Stark, Susanne Hartmann, Raluca Niesner
Abstract

Intestinal parasitic worms are widespread throughout the world, causing chronic infections in humans and animals. However, very little is known about the locomotion of the worms in the host gut. We studied the movement of Heligmosomoides bakeri, naturally infecting mice, and used as an animal model for roundworm infections. We investigated the locomotion of H. bakeri in simplified environments mimicking key physical features of the intestinal lumen, i.e. medium viscosity and intestinal villi topology. We found that the motion sequence of these nematodes is non-periodic, but the migration could be described by transient anomalous diffusion. Aggregation as a result of biased, enhanced-diffusive locomotion of nematodes in sex-mixed groups was detected. This locomotion is probably stimulated by mating and reproduction, while single nematodes move randomly (diffusive). Natural physical obstacles such as high mucus-like viscosity or villi topology slowed down but did not entirely prevent nematode aggregation. Additionally, the mean displacement rate of nematodes in sex-mixed groups of 3.0 × 10 -3 mm s -1 in a mucus-like medium is in good agreement with estimates of migration velocities of 10 -4 to 10 -3 mm s -1 in the gut. Our data indicate H. bakeri motion to be non-periodic and their migration random (diffusive-like), but triggerable by the presence of kin.

Organisationseinheit(en)
Institut für Physikalische Chemie und Elektrochemie
Externe Organisation(en)
Freie Universität Berlin (FU Berlin)
Deutsches Rheuma Forschungszentrum Berlin (DRFZ)
Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg
Technische Universität Berlin
Typ
Artikel
Journal
Journal of the Royal Society Interface
Band
21
ISSN
1742-5689
Publikationsdatum
10.2024
Publikationsstatus
Veröffentlicht
Peer-reviewed
Ja
ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete
Biotechnologie, Biophysik, Bioengineering, Biomaterialien, Biochemie, Biomedizintechnik
Elektronische Version(en)
https://doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2024.0327 (Zugang: Offen)