Collaborative Research: Experiments and Modeling of the Fluid Flow of Beating Eukaryotic Flagella

合作研究：真核鞭毛跳动流体流动的实验和建模

• 批准号: 2242095
• 负责人: Xiang Cheng
• 金额: $ 38.23万
• 依托单位: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2023-08-01 至 2026-07-31
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2242095&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Experiments; Modeling; Fluid

Flagella and cilia are thin hair-like cellular structures which play an essential role in many basic life processes. By beating rhythmically, flagella and cilia move fluid in the local environment of cells. This biological function enables pulmonary mucus clearance in airways and the transport of ovums from the ovary to the uterus for example. Malfunction of flagella and cilia can lead to a group of serious human disorders, ciliopathies, which cause a heavy economic and disease burden on society. However, despite the ubiquity and importance of flagella and cilia, fundamental biomechanics underlying the fluid transport of beating flagella and cilia are still poorly understood. Particularly, the detailed flow field induced by beating flagella and cilia remains unresolved. Combining state-of-the-art microscopy techniques with data-driven machine learning, the research team aims to address this difficult biomechanical problem. This research will investigate the flow field of healthy flagella as well as those of mutant flagella associated with ciliopathies using synergistic experimental and numerical modeling efforts. A potential solution to remedy the flow deficiency of malfunction flagella will be researched. In addition to the training and research opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students, the project will produce appealing scientific videos and demonstrations to enhance the undergraduate curriculum and enrich outreach activities at the local communities of the two principal investigators. As a generic model for the morphology and dynamics of flagella and cilia, green algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, will be studied in this research program. Optical microscopy will be used to track the three-dimensional (3D) fluid flow around the beating flagella of a single alga at micron scales with sub-millisecond temporal resolutions. Both wild-type and mutant algae of different swimming modes will be investigated. The mechanical efficiency of flagellar dynamics will be analyzed based on the 3D flow field. Moreover, using the experimental flow field as a basis of reference and taking advantage of modern machine-learning algorithms, the team plans to develop a numerical model of maximal simplicity that can quantitatively capture the algal flow. The model will facilitate the study of the optimization and synchronization of flagellar dynamics and the collective dynamics of algal suspensions. Through the collaborative experimental and modeling efforts, the missing link between the flagellar dynamics and the resulting microscopic fluid flow will be revealed by this research.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

鞭毛和纤毛是薄的头发样细胞结构，在许多基本生命过程中起着至关重要的作用。通过节奏地跳动，鞭毛和纤毛在细胞的局部环境中移动流体。这种生物学功能可以使气道中的肺粘液清除以及卵巢从卵巢传输到子宫。鞭毛和纤毛的故障会导致一群严重的人类疾病，纤毛病，这给社会带来了沉重的经济和疾病负担。但是，尽管鞭毛和纤毛的无处不在和重要性，但跳动鞭毛和纤毛的液体运输的基本生物力学仍然很少了解。特别是，击败鞭毛和纤毛诱发的详细流场仍未解决。研究小组将最新的显微镜技术与数据驱动的机器学习结合在一起，旨在解决这一困难的生物力学问题。这项研究将研究健康的鞭毛的流场以及使用协同实验和数值建模工作的纤毛病变的突变鞭毛鞭毛的流场。将研究纠正故障鞭毛缺乏流量的潜在解决方案。除了对本科和研究生的培训和研究机会外，该项目还将制作有吸引力的科学视频和示范，以增强本科课程，并在两位主要研究人员的当地社区中进行宣传活动。 作为鞭毛和纤毛的形态和动力学的通用模型，将在该研究计划中研究绿藻Chlamydomonas renhardtii。光学显微镜将用于跟踪单个藻类在微米尺度上的三维（3D）流体流动，并具有子毫米尺度的微米尺度。将研究不同游泳模式的野生型和突变藻。将根据3D流场分析鞭毛动力学的机械效率。此外，使用实验流场作为参考和利用现代机器学习算法的基础，团队计划开发一种最大简单的数值模型，可以定量捕获藻类流量。该模型将促进鞭毛动力学的优化和同步研究和藻类悬浮液的集体动力学。通过协作实验和建模工作，这项研究将揭示鞭毛动力学与由此产生的微观流体流之间的缺失联系。该奖项反映了NSF的法定任务，并被认为是值得通过基金会的知识分子优点和更广泛影响的评估标准通过评估来获得支持的。