Figures
"Gliding" motility of Toxoplasma gondii.
The movement of the apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii can appear chaotic and haphazard. However, Z-projection of images captured by video microscopy reveals the rhythmic patterns underlying this chaos (see McCoy et al., doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1003066). By overlaying a heat map (based on pixel density), the paths parasites take as they move across a surface are vividly highlighted, revealing the three simple types of motility that create such complexity. So-called "twirling" motility appears as bright, starlike shapes; "circular" as looped rings; and "helical" motility as long links of chain.
Image Credit: James M. McCoy, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research/Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne.
Citation: (2012) PLoS Pathogens Issue Image | Vol. 8(12) December 2012. PLoS Pathog 8(12): ev08.i12. https://doi.org/10.1371/image.ppat.v08.i12
Published: December 27, 2012
Copyright: © 2012 McCoy. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
The movement of the apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii can appear chaotic and haphazard. However, Z-projection of images captured by video microscopy reveals the rhythmic patterns underlying this chaos (see McCoy et al., doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1003066). By overlaying a heat map (based on pixel density), the paths parasites take as they move across a surface are vividly highlighted, revealing the three simple types of motility that create such complexity. So-called "twirling" motility appears as bright, starlike shapes; "circular" as looped rings; and "helical" motility as long links of chain.
Image Credit: James M. McCoy, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research/Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne.