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Swarming bacteria undergo localized dynamic phase transition to form stress-induced biofilms

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Grobas, Iago, Polin, Marco and Asally, Munehiro (2021) Swarming bacteria undergo localized dynamic phase transition to form stress-induced biofilms. eLife, 10 . e62632. doi:10.7554/eLife.62632

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.62632

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Abstract

Self-organized multicellular behaviors enable cells to adapt and tolerate stressors to a greater degree than isolated cells. However, whether and how cellular communities alter their collective behaviors adaptively upon exposure to stress is largely unclear. Here, we investigate this question using Bacillus subtilis, a model system for bacterial multicellularity. We discover that, upon exposure to a spatial gradient of kanamycin, swarming bacteria activate matrix genes and transit to biofilms. The initial stage of this transition is underpinned by a stress-induced multilayer formation, emerging from a biophysical mechanism reminiscent of motility-induced phase separation (MIPS). The physical nature of the process suggests that stressors which suppress the expansion of swarms would induce biofilm formation. Indeed, a simple physical barrier also induces a swarm-to-biofilm transition. Based on the gained insight, we propose a strategy of antibiotic treatment to inhibit the transition from swarms to biofilms by targeting the localized phase transition.

Item Type: Journal Article
Subjects: Q Science > QH Natural history
Q Science > QR Microbiology
Divisions: Faculty of Science > Life Sciences (2010- )
Faculty of Science > Physics
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): Biofilms, Microbial aggregation, Multicellularity , Bacillus subtilis , Bacteria -- Motility
Journal or Publication Title: eLife
Publisher: eLife Sciences Publications Ltd.
ISSN: 2050-084X
Official Date: 16 March 2021
Dates:
DateEvent
16 March 2021Published
26 February 2021Accepted
Volume: 10
Article Number: e62632
DOI: 10.7554/eLife.62632
Status: Peer Reviewed
Publication Status: Published
Access rights to Published version: Open Access
RIOXX Funder/Project Grant:
Project/Grant IDRIOXX Funder NameFunder ID
MR/N014294/1[MRC] Medical Research Councilhttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000265
EP/M027503/1[EPSRC] Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Councilhttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000266
BB/M017982/1[BBSRC] Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Councilhttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000268
RYC-2018-025345-IMinisterio de Ciencia e Innovaciónhttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100004837

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