The role of surface adhesion on the macroscopic wrinkling of biofilms
Biofilms, bacterial communities of cells encased by a self-produced matrix, exhibit a variety of three-dimensional structures. Specifically, channel networks formed within the bulk of the biofilm have been identified to play an important role in the colonies' viability by promoting the transpor...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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eLife Sciences Publications Ltd
2022-06-01
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| Series: | eLife |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://elifesciences.org/articles/76027 |
| _version_ | 1811252744842903552 |
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| author | Steffen Geisel Eleonora Secchi Jan Vermant |
| author_facet | Steffen Geisel Eleonora Secchi Jan Vermant |
| author_sort | Steffen Geisel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Biofilms, bacterial communities of cells encased by a self-produced matrix, exhibit a variety of three-dimensional structures. Specifically, channel networks formed within the bulk of the biofilm have been identified to play an important role in the colonies' viability by promoting the transport of nutrients and chemicals. Here, we study channel formation and focus on the role of the adhesion of the biofilm matrix to the substrate in Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms grown under constant flow in microfluidic channels. We perform phase contrast and confocal laser scanning microscopy to examine the development of the biofilm structure as a function of the substrates' surface energy. The formation of the wrinkles and folds is triggered by a mechanical buckling instability, controlled by biofilm growth rate and the film’s adhesion to the substrate. The three-dimensional folding gives rise to hollow channels that rapidly increase the effective volume occupied by the biofilm and facilitate bacterial movement inside them. The experiments and analysis on mechanical instabilities for the relevant case of a bacterial biofilm grown during flow enable us to predict and control the biofilm morphology. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T16:39:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-32fddd2803dc4dea899acb5e3eceef42 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-084X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T16:39:13Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | eLife Sciences Publications Ltd |
| record_format | Article |
| series | eLife |
| spelling | doaj.art-32fddd2803dc4dea899acb5e3eceef422022-12-22T03:24:52ZengeLife Sciences Publications LtdeLife2050-084X2022-06-011110.7554/eLife.76027The role of surface adhesion on the macroscopic wrinkling of biofilmsSteffen Geisel0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1121-3103Eleonora Secchi1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0949-9085Jan Vermant2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0352-0656Laboratory for Soft Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, Zurich, SwitzerlandDepartment of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, SwitzerlandLaboratory for Soft Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, Zurich, SwitzerlandBiofilms, bacterial communities of cells encased by a self-produced matrix, exhibit a variety of three-dimensional structures. Specifically, channel networks formed within the bulk of the biofilm have been identified to play an important role in the colonies' viability by promoting the transport of nutrients and chemicals. Here, we study channel formation and focus on the role of the adhesion of the biofilm matrix to the substrate in Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms grown under constant flow in microfluidic channels. We perform phase contrast and confocal laser scanning microscopy to examine the development of the biofilm structure as a function of the substrates' surface energy. The formation of the wrinkles and folds is triggered by a mechanical buckling instability, controlled by biofilm growth rate and the film’s adhesion to the substrate. The three-dimensional folding gives rise to hollow channels that rapidly increase the effective volume occupied by the biofilm and facilitate bacterial movement inside them. The experiments and analysis on mechanical instabilities for the relevant case of a bacterial biofilm grown during flow enable us to predict and control the biofilm morphology.https://elifesciences.org/articles/76027biofilmmicrofluidicsPseudomonas aeruginosabuckling |
| spellingShingle | Steffen Geisel Eleonora Secchi Jan Vermant The role of surface adhesion on the macroscopic wrinkling of biofilms eLife biofilm microfluidics Pseudomonas aeruginosa buckling |
| title | The role of surface adhesion on the macroscopic wrinkling of biofilms |
| title_full | The role of surface adhesion on the macroscopic wrinkling of biofilms |
| title_fullStr | The role of surface adhesion on the macroscopic wrinkling of biofilms |
| title_full_unstemmed | The role of surface adhesion on the macroscopic wrinkling of biofilms |
| title_short | The role of surface adhesion on the macroscopic wrinkling of biofilms |
| title_sort | role of surface adhesion on the macroscopic wrinkling of biofilms |
| topic | biofilm microfluidics Pseudomonas aeruginosa buckling |
| url | https://elifesciences.org/articles/76027 |
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