Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 26, 2025

Investigating Flagella-Driven Motility in Escherichia coli by Applying Three Established Techniques in a Series
Published on: May 10, 2020
Clustering of bacteria with heterogeneous motility
T Vourc'h1, J Léopoldès2,3, H Peerhossaini1,4
1Laboratoire AstroParticules et Cosmologie, CNRS, Université Paris-Diderot, Université de Paris, 5 rue Thomas Mann 75013 Paris, France.
Abstract:
We study the clustering of a model cyanobacterium Synechocystis into microcolonies. The bacteria are allowed to diffuse onto surfaces of different hardness and interact with the others by aggregation and detachment. We find that soft surfaces give rise to more microcolonies than hard ones. This effect is related to the amount of heterogeneity of bacteria's dynamics as given by the proportion of motile cells. A kinetic model that emphasizes specific interactions between cells, complemented by extensive numerical simulations considering various amounts of motility, describes the experimental results adequately. The high proportion of motile cells enhances dispersion rather than aggregation.
Related Concept Videos
Flagella and Motility in Bacteria
Other Unique Bacteria
Intracellular Movement of Viruses and Bacteria
Microbial Morphologies
Bacterial Phylum Tenericutes
Chemotaxis in E. coli

