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Polarization Mechanism of Bacteria Motion in Aquatic Media
by Bohdan Lev, Oleksandr Cherniak
Submission summary
| Authors (as registered SciPost users): | Oleksandr Cherniak |
| Submission information | |
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| Preprint Link: | https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.15037v1 (pdf) |
| Date submitted: | Nov. 10, 2025, 5:02 p.m. |
| Submitted by: | Oleksandr Cherniak |
| Submitted to: | SciPost Physics |
| Ontological classification | |
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| Academic field: | Physics |
| Specialties: |
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| Approach: | Theoretical |
Abstract
A new model of light-induced bacteria motion in an aqueous medium is proposed. The model concerns bacteria both with and without flagellae. It is based on the hydrodynamics of active matter and allows for the changes of polarization of both bacteria and the medium. Natural light is assumed to intensify the motion of clusters with different refraction indices within the bacteria and to modify their polarization. Such motion of polarized globules causes an increase in deformations and inhomogeneous polarization distribution on the bacteria surfaces. The free energy functional is used to calculate the perturbation of the bacteria surfaces and inhomogeneous polarization distributions that may either move along the bacteria or rotate. Mechanical interaction of surface deformations with water flows or interaction of the inhomogeneous polarization with free charges causes bacteria motion in the medium. Estimates of the bacteria motion velocity in the case of the proposed mechanism are made and it corresponded to experimentally observed values.
Author indications on fulfilling journal expectations
- Provide a novel and synergetic link between different research areas.
- Open a new pathway in an existing or a new research direction, with clear potential for multi-pronged follow-up work
- Detail a groundbreaking theoretical/experimental/computational discovery
- Present a breakthrough on a previously-identified and long-standing research stumbling block
Current status:
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I have read the rather long introduction twice, and am still not sure what the point of the manuscript is - even though I think I should be target audience. This indicates to me, that the manuscript is just not ready for submission. The authors should rewrite it completely. Focus the introduction towards the problem at hand. Pay close attention to readability and clarity.
Importantly, the authors claim "Recent experimental study [17–19] of layer mixing in natural waters has, however, revealed the importance of motion of the bacteria Chromatium okenii, namely simultaneous motion of Chromatium okenii both with and without flagellae. Thus there arises an important problem of the mechanism of motion of flagellaless Chromatium okenii" which seems to be the basic observation motivating their study. However, in 17-19 I could not find motion of flagellaless C.O. besides simple advection.
I thus can only conclude to reject the manuscript.
Requested changes
Rewrite completely. Shorten and Focus clearly towards a message
Recommendation
Reject