Molecular Motors Govern Liquidlike Ordering and Fusion Dynamics of Bacterial Colonies

Welker, Anton; Cronenberg, Tom; Zöllner, Robert; Meel, Claudia; Siewering, Katja; Bender, Niklas; Hennes, Marc; Oldewurtel, Enno R.; Maier, Berenike

doi:10.1103/physrevlett.121.118102

Cited by 44 publications

(89 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…The merging of cellular aggregates often is reminiscent of a coalescence of liquid droplets [16,[46][47][48]. One way to quantify this process is to follow the time dynamics of the liquid (capillary) bridge -the contact area of the droplets.…”

Section: F Coalescence Of Coloniesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Continuum theory of active phase separation in cellular aggregates

Kuan

Pönisch

Jülicher

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Dense cellular aggregates are common in many biological settings, ranging from bacterial biofilms to organoids, cell spheroids and tumors. Motivated by Neisseria gonorrhoeae biofilms as a model system, we present a hydrodynamic theory to study dense, active, viscoelastic cellular aggregates.The dynamics of these aggregates, driven by forces generated by individual cells, is intrinsically out-of-equilibrium. Starting from the force balance at the level of individual cells, we arrive at the dynamic equations for the macroscopic cell number density via a systematic coarse-graining procedure taking into account a nematic tensor of intracellular force dipoles. We describe the basic process of aggregate formation as an active phase separation phenomenon. Our theory furthermore captures how two cellular aggregates coalesce. Merging of aggregates is a complex process exhibiting several time scales and heterogeneous cell behaviors as observed in experiments.In our theory, it emerges as a coalescence of active viscoelastic droplets where the key timescales are linked to the turnover of the active force generation. Our theory provides a general framework to study the rheology and dynamics of dense cellular aggregates out of thermal equilibrium. * vasily.zaburdaev@fau.de

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Section: F Coalescence Of Coloniesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Continuum theory of active phase separation in cellular aggregates

Kuan

Pönisch

Jülicher

et al. 2020

Preprint

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“…In this way pili may organize cells and promote rosette development. This model is similar to Neisseria gonorrhoeae, where pilus interactions and pilus motor activity promote dense packing of cells (59)(60)(61). Electron micrographs of rosettes of the closely related species, Asticcacaulis biprosthecum, reveal a network of pili surrounded by holdfast at the junction between poles (62).…”

Section: Pilusmentioning

confidence: 67%

The role ofCaulobactercell surface structures in colonization of the air-liquid interface

Fiebig

2019

Preprint

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In aquatic environments, Caulobacter spp. are often present at the boundary between liquid and air known as the neuston. I report an approach to study temporal features of Caulobacter crescentus colonization and pellicle biofilm development at the air-liquid interface, and have defined the role of cell surface structures in this process. The flagellum enables motile swarmer cells to efficiently reach the oxygenated surface. Here, cells form a monolayer enriched in stalked cells bearing a surface adhesin known as a holdfast. When excised from the liquid surface, this monolayer strongly adheres to glass. The monolayer subsequently develops into a three-dimensional structure that is highly enriched in clusters of stalked cells known as rosettes. As the pellicle film matures, it becomes more cohesive and less adherent to a glass surface. A mutant strain lacking a flagellum does not efficiently reach the surface, and strains lacking type IV pili exhibit defects in organization of the three-dimensional pellicle. Strains unable to synthesize holdfast fail to accumulate at the air-liquid interface and do not form a pellicle. Phase contrast images support a model whereby the holdfast functions to trap C. crescentus cells at the air-liquid boundary. Unlike the holdfast, neither the flagellum nor pili are required for C. crescentus to partition to the air-liquid interface. While it is well established that the holdfast enables adherence to solid surfaces, this study provides evidence that the holdfast has physicochemical properties that enable partitioning of non-motile mother cells to the air-liquid interface, which facilitates colonization of this microenvironment. ImportanceIn aquatic environments the boundary at the air interface is often highly enriched with nutrients and oxygen. The ability of microbial cells to colonize this niche likely confers a significant fitness advantage in many cases. This study provides evidence that the cell surface adhesin known as a holdfast enables Caulobacter crescentus to partition to and colonize the air-liquid interface. Additional surface structures including the flagellum and pili are important determinants of colonization and biofilm formation at this boundary. Considering that holdfast-like adhesins are broadly conserved in Caulobacter spp. and other members of the diverse class Alphaproteobacteria, these surface structures may function broadly to facilitate colonization of air-liquid boundaries in a range of ecological contexts including freshwater, marine, and soil ecosystems.

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“…In many species, Tfp retraction also controls important properties of bacterial aggregates/microcolonies, including local order, viscosity and shape (Craig, Forest, & Maier, ; Welker et al, ). Microcolonies formed by N. meningitidis or N. gonorrhoeae display a heterogeneous motility behaviour, bacteria close to the microcolony surface exhibiting higher motility than those located in the centre.…”

Section: Role Of Type IV Pili In Meningococcal Pathogenesismentioning

confidence: 99%

Meningococcal disease: A paradigm of type‐IV pilus dependent pathogenesis

Souza

Maïssa

Ziveri

et al. 2020

Cellular Microbiology

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Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus) is a Gram‐negative bacterium responsible for two devastating forms of invasive diseases: purpura fulminans and meningitis. Interaction with both peripheral and cerebral microvascular endothelial cells is at the heart of meningococcal pathogenesis. During the last two decades, an essential role for meningococcal type IV pili in vascular colonisation and disease progression has been unravelled. This review summarises 20 years of research on meningococcal type IV pilus‐dependent virulence mechanisms, up to the identification of promising anti‐virulence compounds that target type IV pili.

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Molecular Motors Govern Liquidlike Ordering and Fusion Dynamics of Bacterial Colonies

Cited by 44 publications

References 39 publications

Continuum theory of active phase separation in cellular aggregates

Continuum theory of active phase separation in cellular aggregates

The role ofCaulobactercell surface structures in colonization of the air-liquid interface

Meningococcal disease: A paradigm of type‐IV pilus dependent pathogenesis

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