Journal Article

FZJ-2019-05344

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Verticalization of bacterial biofilms

Beroz, F. ; Yan, J. ; Meir, Y. ; Sabass, B. (Corresponding author)FZJ* ; Stone, H. A. ; Bassler, B. L. ; Wingreen, N. S.

2018
Nature Publishing Group Basingstoke

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Please use a persistent id in citations: http://hdl.handle.net/2128/23217  doi:10.1038/s41567-018-0170-4

Abstract: Biofilms are communities of bacteria adhered to surfaces. Recently, biofilms of rod-shaped bacteria were observed at single-cell resolution and shown to develop from a disordered, two-dimensional layer of founder cells into a three-dimensional structure with a vertically aligned core. Here, we elucidate the physical mechanism underpinning this transition using a combination of agent-based and continuum modelling. We find that verticalization proceeds through a series of localized mechanical instabilities on the cellular scale. For short cells, these instabilities are primarily triggered by cell division, whereas long cells are more likely to be peeled off the surface by nearby vertical cells, creating an ‘inverse domino effect’. The interplay between cell growth and cell verticalization gives rise to an exotic mechanical state in which the effective surface pressure becomes constant throughout the growing core of the biofilm surface layer. This dynamical isobaricity determines the expansion speed of a biofilm cluster and thereby governs how cells access the third dimension. In particular, theory predicts that a longer average cell length yields more rapidly expanding, flatter biofilms. We experimentally show that such changes in biofilm development occur by exploiting chemicals that modulate cell length

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Theorie der Weichen Materie und Biophysik (ICS-2)

Research Program(s):

1. 553 - Physical Basis of Diseases (POF3-553) (POF3-553)

Appears in the scientific report 2019

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Database coverage:
; ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Physical, Chemical and Earth Sciences ; Ebsco Academic Search ; IF >= 20 ; JCR ; Nationallizenz ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

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