MODELING AND ANALYSIS OF FLAGELLA MOVEMENT OF GIARDIA LAMBLIA

摘要

Giardia lamblia is a multi-flagellar parasitic microorganism with four different sets of flagella and a prominent adhesive disc that allows it to swim and attach in the harsh, internal environment of the small intestine. Its ability to reproduce and navigate in this environment makes it an interesting candidate for inspiration for micro-robot design. In this study, we used video microscopy to capture the motion of the anterior, posterolateral, and ventral flagella and determined salient features of their waveforms In addition, the waveform features of the ventral flagella were combined in a fluid dynamic model to study the interactions between the external flagella and the fluid flow around the organism. The beating of the anterior flagella was simulated and compared with experimental observations to better understand the role played by the flagella beating in the fluid flow and propulsion. It was found that the movement of the anterior and posterolateral flagella cause small pockets of reverse flow at the end of the flagella, which could be a factor in the cilia-like beating of the external flagella In addition, our simulation results indicate that the angle between the anterior and posterolateral flagella plays an important role in the effectiveness of the beating which might account for the different exit angles of the flagella with respect to the body.