Abstract
ABSTRACTBacteria have spectacular survival capabilities and can spread in many, vastly different environments. For instance, when pathogenic bacteria infect a host, the cells expand through proliferation and squeezing through narrow pores and elastic matrices. However, the exact role of surface structures and matrix elasticity in colony expansion and morphogenesis is still largely unknown. Here we show howsatellitecolonies emerge around biofilms embedded in semi-soft agar in controlledin vitroassays. We tested how extra-cellular structures – important for biofilm formation and motility – control this morphology. Moreover, we identify the range of extra-cellular matrix elasticity, where this morphology is possible. When paralleled with mathematical modelling, our results demonstrate that satellite formation allows bacterial communities to spread faster. We anticipate that this strategy is important to speed up expansion in various environments while retaining the close interactions and protection provided by the community.
Publisher
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Cited by
1 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献