Antoine Le Gall
@antoinelegall.bsky.social
Biophysicist at CNRS/CBS studying bacterial chromosome secrets, motility, and collective behaviors using multiscale microscopy and bioimage magic.
Calcium acts as a molecular switch that shifts the balance:
⬇️ Low Ca²⁺ → A-motility dominates (smooth gliding)
⬆️ High Ca²⁺ → S-motility dominates (twitching)
⚖️ Intermediate Ca²⁺ → both cooperate to propel the cell
🎥 Same WT cells, same surface; only [Ca²⁺] changes (50 fps)
⬇️ Low Ca²⁺ → A-motility dominates (smooth gliding)
⬆️ High Ca²⁺ → S-motility dominates (twitching)
⚖️ Intermediate Ca²⁺ → both cooperate to propel the cell
🎥 Same WT cells, same surface; only [Ca²⁺] changes (50 fps)
October 31, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Calcium acts as a molecular switch that shifts the balance:
⬇️ Low Ca²⁺ → A-motility dominates (smooth gliding)
⬆️ High Ca²⁺ → S-motility dominates (twitching)
⚖️ Intermediate Ca²⁺ → both cooperate to propel the cell
🎥 Same WT cells, same surface; only [Ca²⁺] changes (50 fps)
⬇️ Low Ca²⁺ → A-motility dominates (smooth gliding)
⬆️ High Ca²⁺ → S-motility dominates (twitching)
⚖️ Intermediate Ca²⁺ → both cooperate to propel the cell
🎥 Same WT cells, same surface; only [Ca²⁺] changes (50 fps)
Live imaging, single-cell tracking, and modeling show the two motility systems act together in the same cells, producing faster, more versatile motion than either alone.
➡️ Co-propulsion boosts speed and flexibility!
🎥 Left=A-only (50 fps)
🎥 Middle=S-only (50 fps)
🎥 Right=both (WT, 50 fps)
➡️ Co-propulsion boosts speed and flexibility!
🎥 Left=A-only (50 fps)
🎥 Middle=S-only (50 fps)
🎥 Right=both (WT, 50 fps)
October 31, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Live imaging, single-cell tracking, and modeling show the two motility systems act together in the same cells, producing faster, more versatile motion than either alone.
➡️ Co-propulsion boosts speed and flexibility!
🎥 Left=A-only (50 fps)
🎥 Middle=S-only (50 fps)
🎥 Right=both (WT, 50 fps)
➡️ Co-propulsion boosts speed and flexibility!
🎥 Left=A-only (50 fps)
🎥 Middle=S-only (50 fps)
🎥 Right=both (WT, 50 fps)
Many microbes have more than one way to move, but do these systems ever work together?
In M. xanthus, we examined how A-motility (surface adhesions) and S-motility (type IV pili) act together within single cells.
🎥 Left = pili (HILO 25 fps)
🎥 Right = focal adhesions (TIRF 25 fps)
In M. xanthus, we examined how A-motility (surface adhesions) and S-motility (type IV pili) act together within single cells.
🎥 Left = pili (HILO 25 fps)
🎥 Right = focal adhesions (TIRF 25 fps)
October 31, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Many microbes have more than one way to move, but do these systems ever work together?
In M. xanthus, we examined how A-motility (surface adhesions) and S-motility (type IV pili) act together within single cells.
🎥 Left = pili (HILO 25 fps)
🎥 Right = focal adhesions (TIRF 25 fps)
In M. xanthus, we examined how A-motility (surface adhesions) and S-motility (type IV pili) act together within single cells.
🎥 Left = pili (HILO 25 fps)
🎥 Right = focal adhesions (TIRF 25 fps)