Quantification of Trypanosoma brucei social motility indicates different colony growth phases

In vitro colonies of the flagellated parasite Trypanosoma brucei exhibit characteristic fingering instability patterns. To enable data-driven and data-validated mechanistic modelling of these complex growth processes, it is crucial to first establish appropriate quantitative metrics beyond qualitative image comparisons. We present a quantification approach based on two scale-free metrics designed to characterize the shape of two-dimensional colonies. Originally developed for yeast colonies, we adapted, modified and extended this analysis pipeline for the Trypanosoma system. By combining these quantitative measurements with colony growth simulations based on the Eden model, we identified two distinct growth phases in social motility-exhibiting colonies: an initial phase of mainly circular expansion, followed by a transition to an almost exclusive finger-growing phase. These phases remain robust with increasing cell numbers and upon partial inhibition of finger formation. A newly developed anisotropy index reveals that partial inhibition leads to increased colony anisotropy over time. Our results provide objective measurements that advance the understanding of social motility and serve as a foundation for future mechanistic modelling efforts. Furthermore, our approach offers a blueprint for investigations of other colony-forming microorganisms, such as yeast or bacteria, emphasizing the broader applicability of developing appropriate metrics for complex biological phenomena.