Gubesh Gunaratnam, Ricarda Leisering, Ben Wieland, Johanna Dudek, Nicolai Miosge, Sören L Becker, Markus Bischoff, Scott C Dawson, Matthias Hannig, Karin Jacobs, Christian Klotz, Toni Aebischer, Philipp Jung
The unicellular parasite Giardia duodenalis is the causative agent of giardiasis, a gastrointestinal disease with global spread. In its trophozoite form, G. duodenalis can adhere to the human intestinal epithelium and a variety of other, artificial surfaces. Its attachment is facilitated by a unique microtubule-based attachment organelle, the so-called ventral disc. The mechanical function of the ventral disc, however, is still debated. Earlier studies postulated that a dynamic negative pressure under the ventral disc, generated by persistently beating flagella, mediates the attachment...
March 19, 2024: Nanoscale