Size Dependant Bead Transport and Bacterial Colonization
We have measured the size dependent passive transport of nanometer and micron scale beads through healthy and Cystic Fibrosis-like mucus, and correlated these measurements with the blooming of bacterial colonies. The colonies grew rapidly in CF-like mucus, which also had a mesh size less than 200nm as ob-served by the impeded diffusion of these beads. In contrast, 200 nm beads moved through the healthy mucus more easily than one micron beads representative of bacteria (Matsui, Wagner et al. 2006). These size dependent diffusivities indicated a complex interplay between small molecule signaling and bacterial motility that may be critical in the development of diseased mucus starting from a healthy state.