Assessing Travel Conditions: Environmental and Host Influences on Bacterial Surface Motility

Abstract

ABSTRACT The degree to which surface-motile bacteria explore their surroundings is influenced by aspects of their local environment. Accordingly, the regulation of surface motility is controlled by numerous chemical, physical, and biological stimuli. The discernment of such regulation due to these multiple cues is a formidable challenge. Additionally, inherent ambiguity and variability from the assays used to assess surface motility can be obstacles to clear the delineation of regulated surface motility behavior. Numerous studies have reported single environmental determinants of microbial motility and lifestyle behavior, but the translation of these data to understand surface motility and bacterial colonization of human host or environmental surfaces is unclear. Here, we describe the current state of the field and our understanding of exogenous factors that influence bacterial surface motility.