Motility, Force Generation, and Energy Consumption of Unicellular Parasites

Motility is a key factor for pathogenicity of unicellular parasites, enabling them to infiltrate and evade host cells, and perform several of their life-cycle events. State-of-the-art methods of motility analysis rely on a combination of optical tweezers with high-resolution microscopy and microfluidics. With this technology, propulsion forces, energies, and power generation can be determined so as to shed light on the motion mechanisms, chemotactic behavior, and specific survival strategies of unicellular parasites. With these new tools in hand, we can elucidate the mechanisms of motility and force generation of unicellular parasites, and identify ways to manipulate and eventually inhibit them.

TrendsThe quantification of the propulsion forces and power of unicellular parasites elucidate their motility, prowess to infiltrate cells, and how they cause diseases and antagonize attacks by the immune system.To quantify forces, energy consumption and power generation, optical tweezers have proven to be a crucial tool. Optical tweezers can hold, displace, and manipulate parasites without actually touching them.Various strategies to study parasite motility and forces rely on placing parasites in predefined environments, specific confinements, pattern arrays, or chemical gradients.Motility analysis allows fast and detailed analysis of parasite adaptation to their environment and of genetic aspects of parasite locomotion.