Microfluidic Confinement of Single Cells of Bacteria in Small Volumes Initiates High‐Density Behavior of Quorum Sensing and Growth and Reveals Its Variability

Boedicker, James; Vincent, Meghan E.; Ismagilov, Rustem F.

doi:10.1002/ange.200901550

Cited by 67 publications

(89 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…According to Hense et al (2007), cells can indeed not distinguish between the three key determinants of autoinducer concentration, namely cell density, spatial distribution of the cells and mass-transfer properties. Because QS pathways are involved in the regulation of a number of key functions in many bacterial species, especially those associated with virulence (Fuqua & Greenberg, 2002;Reading & Sperandio, 2006), the possible cell density independent induction of QS could alter significantly the organisms' ability to thrive in a given environmental setting (Boedicker et al, 2009;Carnes et al, 2010;Connell et al, 2010). Moreover Baysse et al (2005) reported that alterations in membrane properties of P. aeruginosa resulted in premature production of C4-HSL and C6-HSL, which suggests that the QS system was also activated independently of cell density.…”

Section: F Mastroleo and Othersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modelled microgravity cultivation modulates N-acylhomoserine lactone production in Rhodospirillum rubrum S1H independently of cell density

et al. 2013

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The photosynthetic alphaproteobacterium Rhodospirillum rubrum S1H is part of the MicroEcological Life Support System Alternative (MELiSSA) project that is aiming to develop a closed life support system for oxygen, water and food production to support human life in space in forthcoming long-term space exploration missions. In the present study, R. rubrum S1H was cultured in a rotating wall vessel (RWV), simulating partial microgravity conditions on Earth. The bacterium showed a significant response to cultivation in simulated microgravity at the transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolic levels. In simulated microgravity conditions three N-acyl-L-homoserine lactones (C10-HSL, C12-HSL and 3-OH-C14-HSL) were detected in concentrations that were twice those detected under normal gravity, while no differences in cell density was detected. In addition, R. rubrum cultivated in modelled microgravity showed higher pigmentation than the normal gravity control, without change in culture oxygenation. When compared to randomized microgravity cultivation using a random positioning machine, significant overlap for the top differentially expressed genes and proteins was observed. Cultivation in this new artificial environment of simulated microgravity showed new properties of this well-known bacterium, including its first, to our knowledge, complete quorum-sensing-related Nacylhomoserine lactone profile.

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Section: F Mastroleo and Othersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modelled microgravity cultivation modulates N-acylhomoserine lactone production in Rhodospirillum rubrum S1H independently of cell density

et al. 2013

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“…However, the long term culture of algal cells in microdroplets is likely to result in decreased cell viability, in part due to the nutrition depletion in such small volumes (pL). Boedicker et al 26 showed that the confinement of bacteria in microdroplets can induce high-density behaviour in small populations and may be used as a general system in which secreted signal molecules regulate some fundamental biological functions. Microdroplet technology could be used to determine if similar phenomena are observed when culturing microalgae in such environments.…”

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confidence: 99%

Quantitative tracking of the growth of individual algal cells in microdroplet compartments

et al. 2011

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In this paper we introduce a simple droplet-based microfluidic system consisting of two separate devices to encapsulate and culture microalgae, in contrast to cultivation in bulk liquid medium. This microdroplet technology has been used to monitor the growth of individual microalgal cells in a constant environment for extended periods of time. Single cells from three species of green microalgae, (two freshwater species Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Chlorella vulgaris, and one saline species Dunaliella tertiolecta), were encapsulated and incubated in microdroplet compartments of diameter of B80 mm, and their growth analysed over 10 days. In all cases, the doubling time of microalgae grown in microdroplets was similar to growth in bulk. The growth of C. reinhardtii in microdroplets of varying diameters and with different initial cell numbers per droplet was investigated, as well as the effect of varying medium conditions such as pH and nitrogen concentration. This methodology offers the opportunity to study characteristics over time of individual cells and colonies, as well as to screen large numbers of them.

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“…In a very elegant study, Ismagilov demonstrated that quorum sensing could still be induced after confining individual cells to a small space. [18] Therefore, the conclusion was that "one is a quorum"; that is, quorum sensing is not always a collective action.…”

Section: Angewandte Chemiementioning

confidence: 98%

The Frontiers of Organic Chemistry at the Bürgenstock Conference

Roelfes

2009

Angew Chem Int Ed

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Microfluidic Confinement of Single Cells of Bacteria in Small Volumes Initiates High‐Density Behavior of Quorum Sensing and Growth and Reveals Its Variability

Cited by 67 publications

References 42 publications

Modelled microgravity cultivation modulates N-acylhomoserine lactone production in Rhodospirillum rubrum S1H independently of cell density

Modelled microgravity cultivation modulates N-acylhomoserine lactone production in Rhodospirillum rubrum S1H independently of cell density

Quantitative tracking of the growth of individual algal cells in microdroplet compartments

The Frontiers of Organic Chemistry at the Bürgenstock Conference

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