Fig. 3.

Slime is deposited at constant rates underneath the cell body and does not mediate propulsion. (A) Slime thickness (green line) against cell velocity (blue line) or time residence at given locations (red line). Thickness, cell velocity, and residence were computed and normalized as discussed in Materials and Methods. (B) Slime deposition by mutant nonmotile cells. Cells were allowed to settle on the substratum and flushed at different times. Slime deposition underneath the cell body was observed after flushing using Wet-SEEC. (Upper and Lower) Two representative cells harboring different times of contact with the substratum. (Scale bar, 1 μm.)