Chemotaxis

How do white blood cells identify and move to fight invading microorganisms? How do metastatic cancer cells find their target organ? How are sperm cells guided to the egg to fertilize it? How do unicellular organisms find food and avoid noxious substances? By chemotaxis is the common answer to all these questions. Chemotaxis — the response of cells to chemical stimuli by directed movement — is one of the most basic and fascinating processes in nature, involved in both health and disease. This is the first and only textbook and sourcebook on chemotaxis. The authors demonstrate how basic chemotaxis is to life and how widespread it is, and presents the state of the art with respect to its molecular and physiological mechanisms. Because chemotaxis research is still in progress, the book also indicates open questions and future directions of research. In addition, potential applications to health problems are pointed out.