Abstract
THE motility of spirochaetes, especially the Leptospira, has interested many workers but has remained unexplained despite the application of modern techniques. Inadequate observations by Noguchi1 have been used by modern workers (Ritchie and Ellinghausen2; Nauman3) to construct inaccurate models of leptospiral movement, the main inaccuracy of which is that leptospires rotate upon their axes in free liquid, Noguchi1, however, did observe that “when one end is straight and the other semicircularly hooked, the organism usually progresses in the direction of the straight portion and seems to be propelled from the rear by the rotating hook”. Although not correct in important details, the observation of translational movement in the direction of a straightened portion is a fundamental principle. Previous observations and explanations were at variance with the physical principles of fluid mechanics. This paper presents information which we believe to be in accord with such principles.
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References
Noguchi, H., J. exp. Med., 27, 575–593 (1918).
Ritchie, A. E., and Ellinghausen, H. C., J. Bact., 89, 223–233 (1965).
Nauman, R. K., Holt, S. K., and Cox, C. D., J. Bact., 98, 264–279 (1969).
Taylor, G. I., Proc. R. Soc., A 211, 225–239 (1959).
Chwang, A. T., and Wu, T. Y., Proc. R. Soc., B 178, 327–346 (1971).
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COX, P., TWIGG, G. Leptospiral motility. Nature 250, 260–261 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1038/250260a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/250260a0
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