Continuum mechanics in fertilization dynamics: A mathematical approach based on experimental data

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K13456
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 12040:Applied mathematics and statistics-related
• Research Institution: Kyoto University (2019-2023); The University of Tokyo (2018)
• Principal Investigator: Kenta Ishimoto 京都大学, 数理解析研究所, 准教授 (00741141)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 流体力学 / 連続体力学 / 数理モデル

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this research project, we have aimed at establishing modelling methodology for fluid-structure coupling problem of microswimmers such as spermatozoa. Notable achievements include elastohydrodynamic instability of bacterial swimming via a flexible hook. Also, in this project, a novel automatic detection of flagellar shape has been invented, and this method enables one to analyse a large amount of flagellar samples. We also successfully derived swimming formula for the fluid-structure coupling problem, which is helpful in designing a proper shape space.

Free Research Field

応用数学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

精子を含む微生物の遊泳ダイナミクスは、感染症や不妊治療といった医学的観点だけでなく、細胞スケールのマイクロロボットの開発の基礎ともなる。このような複合的な学際領域における、数理的な基盤やモデリング手法の基礎づけは、広範囲の学術的分野を支える知見となる。特に成果のあったバクテリアの壁面近傍の挙動に関しては、バイオフィルムの形成メカニズムを理解する上でも重要だと考えている。