Phoretic interactions and oscillations in active suspensions of growing Escherichia coli

Bioluminescence imaging experiments were carried out to characterize spatio-temporal patterns of bacterial self-organization in active suspensions (cultures) of bioluminescent Escherichia coli and its mutants. An analysis of the effects of mutations shows that spatio-temporal patterns formed in stan...

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Main Authors: Remigijus Šimkus, Rita Meškienė, Agota Aučynaitė, Žilvinas Ledas, Romas Baronas, Rolandas Meškys
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Royal Society 2018-01-01
Series:Royal Society Open Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsos.180008
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author Remigijus Šimkus
Rita Meškienė
Agota Aučynaitė
Žilvinas Ledas
Romas Baronas
Rolandas Meškys
author_facet Remigijus Šimkus
Rita Meškienė
Agota Aučynaitė
Žilvinas Ledas
Romas Baronas
Rolandas Meškys
author_sort Remigijus Šimkus
collection DOAJ
description Bioluminescence imaging experiments were carried out to characterize spatio-temporal patterns of bacterial self-organization in active suspensions (cultures) of bioluminescent Escherichia coli and its mutants. An analysis of the effects of mutations shows that spatio-temporal patterns formed in standard microtitre plates are not related to the chemotaxis system of bacteria. In fact, these patterns are strongly dependent on the properties of mutants that characterize them as self-phoretic (non-flagellar) swimmers. In particular, the observed patterns are essentially dependent on the efficiency of proton translocation across membranes and the smoothness of the cell surface. These characteristics can be associated, respectively, with the surface activity and the phoretic mobility of a colloidal swimmer. An analysis of the experimental data together with mathematical modelling of pattern formation suggests the following: (1) pattern-forming processes can be described by Keller–Segel-type models of chemotaxis with logistic cell kinetics; (2) active cells can be seen as biochemical oscillators that exhibit phoretic drift and alignment; and (3) the spatio-temporal patterns in a suspension of growing E. coli form due to phoretic interactions between oscillating cells of high metabolic activity.
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spelling doaj.art-000fcb3762f143f3b79de9930f4641632022-12-22T01:21:41ZengThe Royal SocietyRoyal Society Open Science2054-57032018-01-015510.1098/rsos.180008180008Phoretic interactions and oscillations in active suspensions of growing Escherichia coliRemigijus ŠimkusRita MeškienėAgota AučynaitėŽilvinas LedasRomas BaronasRolandas MeškysBioluminescence imaging experiments were carried out to characterize spatio-temporal patterns of bacterial self-organization in active suspensions (cultures) of bioluminescent Escherichia coli and its mutants. An analysis of the effects of mutations shows that spatio-temporal patterns formed in standard microtitre plates are not related to the chemotaxis system of bacteria. In fact, these patterns are strongly dependent on the properties of mutants that characterize them as self-phoretic (non-flagellar) swimmers. In particular, the observed patterns are essentially dependent on the efficiency of proton translocation across membranes and the smoothness of the cell surface. These characteristics can be associated, respectively, with the surface activity and the phoretic mobility of a colloidal swimmer. An analysis of the experimental data together with mathematical modelling of pattern formation suggests the following: (1) pattern-forming processes can be described by Keller–Segel-type models of chemotaxis with logistic cell kinetics; (2) active cells can be seen as biochemical oscillators that exhibit phoretic drift and alignment; and (3) the spatio-temporal patterns in a suspension of growing E. coli form due to phoretic interactions between oscillating cells of high metabolic activity.https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsos.180008bacterial growthbacterial chemotaxisbiochemical oscillationsjanus particlesself-phoresis
spellingShingle Remigijus Šimkus
Rita Meškienė
Agota Aučynaitė
Žilvinas Ledas
Romas Baronas
Rolandas Meškys
Phoretic interactions and oscillations in active suspensions of growing Escherichia coli
Royal Society Open Science
bacterial growth
bacterial chemotaxis
biochemical oscillations
janus particles
self-phoresis
title Phoretic interactions and oscillations in active suspensions of growing Escherichia coli
title_full Phoretic interactions and oscillations in active suspensions of growing Escherichia coli
title_fullStr Phoretic interactions and oscillations in active suspensions of growing Escherichia coli
title_full_unstemmed Phoretic interactions and oscillations in active suspensions of growing Escherichia coli
title_short Phoretic interactions and oscillations in active suspensions of growing Escherichia coli
title_sort phoretic interactions and oscillations in active suspensions of growing escherichia coli
topic bacterial growth
bacterial chemotaxis
biochemical oscillations
janus particles
self-phoresis
url https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsos.180008
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AT zilvinasledas phoreticinteractionsandoscillationsinactivesuspensionsofgrowingescherichiacoli
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