Use of an AC electric field in galvanotactic on/off switching of the motion of a microstructure blotted by Serratia marcescens

In this study, we manipulated the swimming direction of bacteria and controlled the switching off movement by using dc and ac galvanotaxis. The microstructures blotted by Serratia marcescens could be spontaneously manipulated and switched off at the desired position. The optimum ac frequency for switching off the microstructural motion was 7 Hz. We built a mathematical model to analyze and understand the oscillating motion of microstructure. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3624834]