Bacterial adhesion in vitro and in silico

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet (LMU) researchers in Munich, Germany, have characterized the physical mechanism that enables a widespread bacterial pathogen to adhere to the tissues of its human host.

Researchers control cell adhesion using light

A cell is rarely on its own, because cells require good contacts to communicate with one another, to differentiate from others and to multiply. For this, cells have developed sophisticated mechanisms, the details of which ...

A novel switching mechanism for adhesion

Lizbeth Prieto-López, PhD student working with Professor John Williams in the Mechanics, Materials and Design division, is designing a novel switching mechanism for adhesion that uses Van der Waals forces.

Captured in silken netting and sticky hairs

The great ecological success of spiders is often substantiated by the evolution of silk and webs. Biologists of the Kiel University and the University of Bern now found an alternative adaptation to hunting prey: hairy adhesive ...

Lizard tails detach at a biological 'dotted line'

Like sheets of paper marked with perforated lines, gecko tails have unique structural marks that help them sever their tails to make a quick getaway. Though voluntarily shedding a body part in this manner is a well-known ...

Boosting the sensitivity of airport security screening

Scientists are reporting a simple way to improve the sensitivity of the test often used to detect traces of explosives on the hands, carry-ons and other possessions of passengers at airport security screening stations. Their ...

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