Nematodes are microscopic, soil-dwelling worms that navigate through soil particles in search of food or a suitable host. Most nematode species employ a myriad of physical and chemical cues that define their navigation strategies. Here, we demonstrate a microfluidic method to observe and characterize the physical aspects of nematode navigation at real-time. The microfluidic devices comprise a series of interconnected T-maze or cylindrical structures of varying geometry. At each physical intersection, nematodes are given the choice to migrate left or right. We found that this decision-making of nematodes is influenced by the angle of intersection of T-maze structures. We further showed that nematodes can be passively directed to move in a linear direction by carefully adjusting the position and spacing of cylindrical obstacles in its path. The experiments were conducted on two nematodes (non-parasitic C. elegans and pigparasitic Oesophagostomum dentatum) and in the absence of any chemical or electrical stimulants.
%0 Journal Article
%1 pandey_decision-making_2011
%A Pandey, Santosh
%D 2011
%J Advances in Bioscience and Biotechnology
%K behavior channel elegans maze microfluidics myown navigation neuron organism
%N 6
%R http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/abb.2011.26060
%T Decision making by nematodes in complex microfluidic mazes
%U https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation.aspx?paperid=8897
%V 2
%X Nematodes are microscopic, soil-dwelling worms that navigate through soil particles in search of food or a suitable host. Most nematode species employ a myriad of physical and chemical cues that define their navigation strategies. Here, we demonstrate a microfluidic method to observe and characterize the physical aspects of nematode navigation at real-time. The microfluidic devices comprise a series of interconnected T-maze or cylindrical structures of varying geometry. At each physical intersection, nematodes are given the choice to migrate left or right. We found that this decision-making of nematodes is influenced by the angle of intersection of T-maze structures. We further showed that nematodes can be passively directed to move in a linear direction by carefully adjusting the position and spacing of cylindrical obstacles in its path. The experiments were conducted on two nematodes (non-parasitic C. elegans and pigparasitic Oesophagostomum dentatum) and in the absence of any chemical or electrical stimulants.
@article{pandey_decision-making_2011,
abstract = {Nematodes are microscopic, soil-dwelling worms that navigate through soil particles in search of food or a suitable host. Most nematode species employ a myriad of physical and chemical cues that define their navigation strategies. Here, we demonstrate a microfluidic method to observe and characterize the physical aspects of nematode navigation at real-time. The microfluidic devices comprise a series of interconnected T-maze or cylindrical structures of varying geometry. At each physical intersection, nematodes are given the choice to migrate left or right. We found that this decision-making of nematodes is influenced by the angle of intersection of T-maze structures. We further showed that nematodes can be passively directed to move in a linear direction by carefully adjusting the position and spacing of cylindrical obstacles in its path. The experiments were conducted on two nematodes (non-parasitic C. elegans and pigparasitic Oesophagostomum dentatum) and in the absence of any chemical or electrical stimulants.},
added-at = {2022-07-12T23:11:58.000+0200},
author = {Pandey, Santosh},
biburl = {https://www.bibsonomy.org/bibtex/200cd3d7ea75a2fcc8630a44b7378fa03/spandey50},
doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/abb.2011.26060},
interhash = {7257c2fd88ffa8a49458e6d486866c67},
intrahash = {00cd3d7ea75a2fcc8630a44b7378fa03},
journal = {Advances in Bioscience and Biotechnology},
keywords = {behavior channel elegans maze microfluidics myown navigation neuron organism},
language = {english},
number = 6,
timestamp = {2023-02-23T22:52:12.000+0100},
title = {Decision making by nematodes in complex microfluidic mazes},
url = {https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation.aspx?paperid=8897},
volume = 2,
year = 2011
}