2D motility tracking of Pseudomonas putida KT2440 in growth phases using video microscopy

Pseudomonas putida KT2440 is a gram negative motile soil bacterium important in bioremediation and biotechnology. Thus, it is important to understand its motility characteristics as individuals and in populations. Population characteristics were determined using a modified Gompertz model. Video microscopy and imaging software were utilized to analyze two dimensional (2D) bacteria movement tracks to quantify individual bacteria behavior. It was determined that inoculum density increased the lag time as seeding densities decreased, and that the maximum specific growth rate decreased as seeding densities increased. Average bacterial velocity remained relatively similar throughout the exponential growth phase (~20.9 microm/s), while maximum velocities peak early in the exponential growth phase at a velocity of 51.2 microm/s. P. putida KT2440 also favors smaller turn angles indicating that they often continue in the same direction after a change in flagella rotation throughout the exponential growth phase.