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Deformation of Filamentous Escherichia coli Cells in a Microfluidic Device: A New Technique to Study Cell Mechanics

Figure 2

Deformation of a non-growing cell (A) and a growing cell (B).

Flow was from right to left. Infusion rate was . For the non-growing cell (A), the cell did not deform along its entire length outside of the growth channel. Rather, the deformation seems to occur over a restricted area around the exit from the growth channel. Note the time difference between panel (6) and panels (1-5), showing that after minutes, the cell obtained its steady state conformation. For the growing cell (B), as the cell grew into the main channel, and when a sufficient force was applied, it deformed. Initially, the deformation resembled the bending of the non-growing-cells. As the cell grew longer, it deformed more from a straight conformation. Finally, it grew horizontally.

doi: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0083775.g002