Malaria parasites corkscrew through skin while finding a way to the liver, PgII

Key Highlights:

• Malaria parasites use helical (corkscrew-like) motion to navigate through the skin to reach the liver after a mosquito bite.
• Researchers at Heidelberg University studied this movement in synthetic hydrogels, publishing their findings in Nature Physics on November 24.
• The study found that parasites move almost exclusively on right-handed helices in 3D environments.
• A mathematical model showed that helical motion helps parasites travel farther in noisy environments compared to straight-line movement.
• The model identified time scales of 20 seconds for one helical turn and 100 seconds for the helix axis to maintain direction.

Detailed Insights:

• Malaria parasites face challenges from environmental noise and internal fluctuations that can disrupt their orientation.
• The helical path's radius matches the size of small blood vessels, aiding navigation.
• The study used an Ornstein-Uhlenbeck (OU) process to model rotational noise, mimicking internal processes within the parasite.
• The model showed that helical motion allows parasites to maintain a stable direction despite internal fluctuations.
• This research complements earlier studies on sperm cells and algae, where helical swimming aids movement in chemical gradients.
• The findings suggest that helical motion is a robust evolutionary strategy for efficient travel in noisy environments.
• The model could inspire the design of micro and nanobots for effective navigation in complex tissues for medical applications.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Helical Motion: Movement in a corkscrew-like path, characterized by a constant turn and forward motion.
• Ornstein-Uhlenbeck (OU) Process: A mathematical model describing noise that is partly predictable, mimicking internal biological processes.
• Chiral Active Particle: A particle that tends to twist around in a fixed direction as it moves forward.