chemotaxis
Stimulus-driven cellular movement
Chemotaxis is the movement of an organism or cell toward or away from a chemical stimulus.
Bacteria swim toward nutrients through chemotaxis; white blood cells migrate toward infection sites the same way.
The phenomenon is fundamental to processes from bacterial foraging to immune response to embryonic development.
Rate of change across space
- chemoreceptorSensory unit detecting chemicals
- receptorSignal-receiving molecule
- ligandMolecule that binds centrally
- phosphorylationPhosphate group attachment process
kinase · cytokine · concentration · diffusion · intracellular · stimulus · response · sensory
Deliberate keeping away
- withdrawalAct of taking away
- deterrentThing that discourages action
- repellentCauses strong aversion
- evasionAct of escaping detection
escape · aversion · noxious · bidirectional · concentration gradient · reversal · turning away
Multi-lobed immune cell
- macrophageEngulfing immune cell
- phagocyteCell that engulfs invaders
- leukocyteInfection-fighting blood cell
- phagocytosisCellular ingestion of particles
extravasation · inflammation · interleukin · granulocyte · monocyte · lymphocyte · wound healing · infection
Movement to new territory
- locomotionAbility to travel independently
- motilitySelf-generated movement capacity
- flagellaWhiplike locomotion appendages
- directionalityHaving a specific heading
pathfinding · navigate · crawling · swimming · pseudopod · actin · cytoskeleton · polarization
Whiplike locomotion appendages
- biofilmAdhesive layer of microorganisms
- microbeMicroscopic living organism
- colonyDependent territorial settlement
- motilitySelf-generated movement capacity
tumbling · methylation · Salmonella · swarming · pathogen · colonization · adaptation · sensory adaptation
gradient
Rate of change across space
- chemoreceptorSensory unit detecting chemicals
- receptorSignal-receiving molecule
- ligandMolecule that binds centrally
phosphorylation · kinase · cytokine · concentration · diffusion · intracellular · stimulus · response · sensory · chemosensory
avoidance
Deliberate keeping away
- withdrawalAct of taking away
- deterrentThing that discourages action
- repellentCauses strong aversion
evasion · escape · aversion · noxious · bidirectional · concentration gradient · reversal · turning away
neutrophil
Multi-lobed immune cell
- macrophageEngulfing immune cell
- phagocyteCell that engulfs invaders
- leukocyteInfection-fighting blood cell
phagocytosis · extravasation · inflammation · interleukin · granulocyte · monocyte · lymphocyte · wound healing · infection · recruitment
migration
Movement to new territory
- locomotionAbility to travel independently
- motilitySelf-generated movement capacity
- flagellaWhiplike locomotion appendages
directionality · pathfinding · navigate · crawling · swimming · pseudopod · actin · cytoskeleton · polarization · protrusion
flagella
Whiplike locomotion appendages
- biofilmAdhesive layer of microorganisms
- microbeMicroscopic living organism
- colonyDependent territorial settlement
motility · tumbling · methylation · Salmonella · swarming · pathogen · colonization · adaptation · sensory adaptation · attractant