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Published on: October 29, 2016
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Differential interaction forces govern bacterial sorting in early biofilms
Enno R Oldewurtel1, Nadzeya Kouzel1, Lena Dewenter1
1Department of Physics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
Elife
|September 25, 2015
Summary
Bacterial surface structures, like pili, influence how cells sort in biofilms. Changes in pilus modification and density drive cell sorting, impacting biofilm architecture.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Biophysics
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Bacterial biofilms exhibit surface heterogeneity.
- The impact of this heterogeneity on cell-cell interactions and biofilm architecture is not well understood.
- Type IV pili are crucial for bacterial adhesion and motility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if variations in bacterial surface structures, specifically type IV pili, induce cell sorting in *Neisseria gonorrhoeae*.
- To determine the role of pilus post-translational modification and density in cell sorting.
- To explore the physical principles governing cell sorting in early biofilms.
Main Methods:
- Utilized *Neisseria gonorrhoeae* and its type IV pilus system.
- Manipulated pilus post-translational modification and density.
- Measured pilus rupture forces and observed microcolony morphologies.
- Applied principles of differential adhesion and force generation.
Main Results:
- Pilus rupture forces are modulated by post-translational modification.
- Bacterial cell sorting is dependent on pilus post-translational modification and density.
- Active force generation is essential for the formation of defined microcolony morphologies.
- Observed cell sorting aligns with the differential strength of adhesion hypothesis.
Conclusions:
- Bacterial surface structure variations, specifically pilus density and rupture force, can trigger cell sorting in early biofilms.
- Cell sorting in biofilms follows physical principles similar to those observed in developing embryos.
- Understanding these physical interactions is key to deciphering biofilm development and architecture.
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