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Valverde-Pozo J, Paredes JM, García-Rubiño ME, Girón MD, Salto R, Alvarez-Pez JM, Talavera EM. Advanced Imaging Methodology in Bacterial Biofilms with a Fluorescent Enzymatic Sensor for pepN Activity. BIOSENSORS 2024; 14:424. [PMID: 39329799 PMCID: PMC11430670 DOI: 10.3390/bios14090424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2024] [Revised: 08/20/2024] [Accepted: 08/31/2024] [Indexed: 09/28/2024]
Abstract
This research explores the use of the pepN activity fluorescent sensor DCM-Ala in bacterial biofilms, emphasizing its significance due to the critical role of biofilms in various biological processes. Advanced imaging techniques were employed to visualize pepN activity, introducing a novel approach to examining biofilm maturity. We found that the overexpression of pepN increases the ability of E. coli to form biofilm. The findings demonstrate varying levels of pepN activity throughout biofilm development, suggesting potential applications in biofilm research and management. The results indicate that the fluorescent emission from this sensor could serve as a reliable indicator of biofilm maturity, and the imaging techniques developed could enhance our understanding and control of biofilm-related processes. This work highlights the importance of innovative methods in biofilm study and opens new avenues for utilizing chemical emissions in biofilm management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Valverde-Pozo
- Nanoscopy-UGR Laboratory, Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Unidad de Excelencia en Quimica Aplicada a Biomedicina y Medioambiente (UEQ), University of Granada, C. U. Cartuja, 18071 Granada, Spain
- Departamento de Química y Bioquímica, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad San Pablo-CEU, CEU Universities, Urbanización Montepríncipe, 28668 Boadilla del Monte, Spain
| | - Jose M Paredes
- Nanoscopy-UGR Laboratory, Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Unidad de Excelencia en Quimica Aplicada a Biomedicina y Medioambiente (UEQ), University of Granada, C. U. Cartuja, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - María Eugenia García-Rubiño
- Nanoscopy-UGR Laboratory, Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Unidad de Excelencia en Quimica Aplicada a Biomedicina y Medioambiente (UEQ), University of Granada, C. U. Cartuja, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - María Dolores Girón
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Faculty of Pharmacy, Unidad de Excelencia en Quimica Aplicada a Biomedicina y Medioambiente (UEQ), University of Granada, Cartuja Campus, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Rafael Salto
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Faculty of Pharmacy, Unidad de Excelencia en Quimica Aplicada a Biomedicina y Medioambiente (UEQ), University of Granada, Cartuja Campus, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Jose M Alvarez-Pez
- Nanoscopy-UGR Laboratory, Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Unidad de Excelencia en Quimica Aplicada a Biomedicina y Medioambiente (UEQ), University of Granada, C. U. Cartuja, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Eva M Talavera
- Nanoscopy-UGR Laboratory, Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Unidad de Excelencia en Quimica Aplicada a Biomedicina y Medioambiente (UEQ), University of Granada, C. U. Cartuja, 18071 Granada, Spain
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2
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Cometta S, Hutmacher DW, Chai L. In vitro models for studying implant-associated biofilms - A review from the perspective of bioengineering 3D microenvironments. Biomaterials 2024; 309:122578. [PMID: 38692146 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2024.122578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Biofilm research has grown exponentially over the last decades, arguably due to their contribution to hospital acquired infections when they form on foreign body surfaces such as catheters and implants. Yet, translation of the knowledge acquired in the laboratory to the clinic has been slow and/or often it is not attempted by research teams to walk the talk of what is defined as 'bench to bedside'. We therefore reviewed the biofilm literature to better understand this gap. Our search revealed substantial development with respect to adapting surfaces and media used in models to mimic the clinical settings, however many of the in vitro models were too simplistic, often discounting the composition and properties of the host microenvironment and overlooking the biofilm-implant-host interactions. Failure to capture the physiological growth conditions of biofilms in vivo results in major differences between lab-grown- and clinically-relevant biofilms, particularly with respect to phenotypic profiles, virulence, and antimicrobial resistance, and they essentially impede bench-to-bedside translatability. In this review, we describe the complexity of the biological processes at the biofilm-implant-host interfaces, discuss the prerequisite for the development and characterization of biofilm models that better mimic the clinical scenario, and propose an interdisciplinary outlook of how to bioengineer biofilms in vitro by converging tissue engineering concepts and tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Cometta
- Max Planck Queensland Centre, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia; Faculty of Engineering, School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia; Australian Research Council (ARC) Training Centre for Multiscale 3D Imaging, Modelling, and Manufacturing (M3D Innovation), Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia.
| | - Dietmar W Hutmacher
- Max Planck Queensland Centre, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia; Faculty of Engineering, School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia; Australian Research Council (ARC) Training Centre for Multiscale 3D Imaging, Modelling, and Manufacturing (M3D Innovation), Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia; Australian Research Council Training Centre for Cell and Tissue Engineering Technologies, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia.
| | - Liraz Chai
- Max Planck Queensland Centre, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia; The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Institute of Chemistry, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel; The Harvey M. Krueger Family Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 9190401, Israel.
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3
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Siri M, Mangiarotti A, Vázquez-Dávila M, Bidan CM. Curli Amyloid Fibers in Escherichia coli Biofilms: The Influence of Water Availability on their Structure and Functional Properties. Macromol Biosci 2024; 24:e2300234. [PMID: 37776075 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.202300234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
Escherichia coli biofilms consist of bacteria embedded in a self-produced matrix mainly made of protein fibers and polysaccharides. The curli amyloid fibers found in the biofilm matrix are promising versatile building blocks to design sustainable bio-sourced materials. To exploit this potential, it is crucial to understand i) how environmental cues during biofilm growth influence the molecular structure of these amyloid fibers, and ii) how this translates at higher length scales. To explore these questions, the effect of water availability during biofilm growth on the conformation and functions of curli is studied. Microscopy and spectroscopy are used to characterize the amyloid fibers purified from biofilms grown on nutritive substrates with different water contents, and micro-indentation to measure the rigidity of the respective biofilms. The purified curli amyloid fibers present differences in the yield, structure, and functional properties upon biofilm growth conditions. Fiber packing and β-sheets content correlate with their hydrophobicity and chemical stability, and with the rigidity of the biofilms. This study highlights how E. coli biofilm growth conditions impact curli structure and functions contributing to macroscopic materials properties. These fundamental findings infer an alternative strategy to tune curli structure, which will ultimately benefit engineering hierarchical and functional curli-based materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Macarena Siri
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Department of Biomaterials, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Agustín Mangiarotti
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Department of Sustainable and Bio-inspired Materials, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Mónica Vázquez-Dávila
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Department of Biomaterials, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Cécile M Bidan
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Department of Biomaterials, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
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4
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Kochanowski JA, Carroll B, Asp ME, Kaputa EC, Patteson AE. Bacteria Colonies Modify Their Shear and Compressive Mechanical Properties in Response to Different Growth Substrates. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2024. [PMID: 38193703 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.3c00907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Bacteria build multicellular communities termed biofilms, which are often encased in a self-secreted extracellular matrix that gives the community mechanical strength and protection against harsh chemicals. How bacteria assemble distinct multicellular structures in response to different environmental conditions remains incompletely understood. Here, we investigated the connection between bacteria colony mechanics and the colony growth substrate by measuring the oscillatory shear and compressive rheology of bacteria colonies grown on agar substrates. We found that bacteria colonies modify their own mechanical properties in response to shear and uniaxial compression in a manner that depends on the concentration of agar in their growth substrate. These findings highlight that mechanical interactions between bacteria and their microenvironments are an important element in bacteria colony development, which can aid in developing strategies to disrupt or reduce biofilm growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakub A Kochanowski
- Physics Department and BioInspired Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13210, United States
| | - Bobby Carroll
- Physics Department and BioInspired Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13210, United States
| | - Merrill E Asp
- Physics Department and BioInspired Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13210, United States
| | - Emma C Kaputa
- Physics Department and BioInspired Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13210, United States
| | - Alison E Patteson
- Physics Department and BioInspired Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13210, United States
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5
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Wang L, Li W, Li X, Liu J, Chen Y. Antimicrobial Activity and Mechanisms of Walnut Green Husk Extract. Molecules 2023; 28:7981. [PMID: 38138470 PMCID: PMC10745604 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28247981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Walnut green husks (WGHs), by-products of walnut production, are believed to possess antimicrobial properties, making them a potential alternative to antibiotics. In this study, the antibacterial activities of three extracts, derived from WGH, against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, and Escherichia coli were investigated, and the antibacterial mechanisms of an anhydrous ethanol extract of WGH (WGHa) were examined. The results showed that WGHa exhibited inhibitory effects on all tested bacteria. The ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis revealed that the major active compounds present in WGHa were terpenoids, phenols, and flavonoids. Treatment with WGHa resulted in the leakage of intracellular ions and alkaline phosphatase; a reduction in intracellular ATP content, ATPase activity, and nucleic acid content; as well as cellular metabolic viability. The transmission electron microscopy images showed varying degrees of cell deformation and membrane damage following WGHa treatment. The transcriptome sequencing and differentially expressed gene enrichment analyses revealed an up-regulation in pathways associated with RNA degradation, translation, protein export, and oxidative phosphorylation. Conversely, pathways involved in cell movement and localization, as well as cell wall organization and carbohydrate transport, were found to be down-regulated. These findings suggest that WGHa alters cell membrane permeability and causes damage to the cell wall. Additionally, WGHa interferes with cellular energy metabolism, compromises RNA integrity, and induces DNA replication stress, consequently inhibiting the normal growth and proliferation of bacteria. These findings unveiled the antimicrobial mechanisms of WGHa, highlighting its potential application as an antibiotic alternative.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Yong Chen
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Herbivore Nutrition for Meat & Milk, College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China; (L.W.); (W.L.); (X.L.); (J.L.)
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6
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Wu J, Li X, Kong R, Wang J, Wang X. Analysis of biofilm expansion rate of Bacillus subtilis (MTC871) on agar substrates with different stiffness. Can J Microbiol 2023; 69:479-487. [PMID: 37379574 DOI: 10.1139/cjm-2022-0259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
The surface morphology of mature biofilms is heterogeneous and can be divided into concentric rings wrinkles (I), labyrinthine networks wrinkles (II), radial ridges wrinkles (III), and branches wrinkles (IV), according to surface wrinkle structure and distribution characteristics. Due to the wrinkle structures, channels are formed between the biofilm and substrate and transport nutrients, water, metabolic products, etc. We find that expansion rate variations of biofilms growing on substrates with high and low agar concentrations (1.5, 2.0, 2.5 wt.%) are not in the same phase. In the first 3 days' growth, the interaction stress between biofilm and each agar substrate increases, which makes the biofilm expansion rate decreases before wrinkle pattern IV (branches) comes up. After 3 days, in the later growth stage after wrinkle pattern IV appears, the biofilm has larger expansion rate growing on 2.0 wt.% agar concentration, which has the larger wrinkle distance in wrinkle pattern IV reducing energy consumption. Our study shows that the stiff substrate does not always inhibit the biofilm expansion, although it does in the earlier stage; after that, mature biofilms acquire larger expansion rate by adjusting the growth mode through the wrinkle evolution even in nutrient extremely depletion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Wu
- School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Xianyong Li
- School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Rui Kong
- School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Jiankun Wang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Xiaoling Wang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
- School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
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7
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Dayton H, Kiss J, Wei M, Chauhan S, LaMarre E, Cornell WC, Morgan CJ, Janakiraman A, Min W, Tomer R, Price-Whelan A, Nirody JA, Dietrich LE. Cell arrangement impacts metabolic activity and antibiotic tolerance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.20.545666. [PMID: 37645902 PMCID: PMC10462148 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.20.545666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Cells must access resources to survive, and the anatomy of multicellular structures influences this access. In diverse multicellular eukaryotes, resources are provided by internal conduits that allow substances to travel more readily through tissue than they would via diffusion. Microbes growing in multicellular structures, called biofilms, are also affected by differential access to resources and we hypothesized that this is influenced by the physical arrangement of the cells. In this study, we examined the microanatomy of biofilms formed by the pathogenic bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa and discovered that clonal cells form striations that are packed lengthwise across most of a mature biofilm's depth. We identified mutants, including those defective in pilus function and in O-antigen attachment, that show alterations to this lengthwise packing phenotype. Consistent with the notion that cellular arrangement affects access to resources within the biofilm, we found that while the wild type shows even distribution of tested substrates across depth, the mutants show accumulation of substrates at the biofilm boundaries. Furthermore, we found that altered cellular arrangement within biofilms affects the localization of metabolic activity, the survival of resident cells, and the susceptibility of subpopulations to antibiotic treatment. Our observations provide insight into cellular features that determine biofilm microanatomy, with consequences for physiological differentiation and drug sensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Dayton
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY 10025
| | - Julie Kiss
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY 10025
| | - Mian Wei
- Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, NY 10025
| | - Shradha Chauhan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY 10025
| | - Emily LaMarre
- Program in Biology, The Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY 10016
| | | | - Chase J. Morgan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY 10025
| | - Anuradha Janakiraman
- Program in Biology, The Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY 10016
| | - Wei Min
- Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, NY 10025
| | - Raju Tomer
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY 10025
| | - Alexa Price-Whelan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY 10025
| | - Jasmine A Nirody
- Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637
| | - Lars E.P. Dietrich
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY 10025
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8
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Cai A, Abdali Z, Saldanha DJ, Aminzare M, Dorval Courchesne NM. Endowing textiles with self-repairing ability through the fabrication of composites with a bacterial biofilm. Sci Rep 2023; 13:11389. [PMID: 37452128 PMCID: PMC10349112 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-38501-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
To address the increasing environmental footprint of the fast-growing textile industry, self-repairing textile composites have been developed to allow torn or damaged textiles to restore their morphological, mechanical, and functional features. A sustainable way to create these textile composites is to introduce a coating material that is biologically derived, biodegradable, and can be produced through scalable processes. Here, we fabricated self-repairing textile composites by integrating the biofilms of Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria into conventional knitted textiles. The major structural protein component in E. coli biofilm is a matrix of curli fibers, which has demonstrated extraordinary abilities to self-assemble into mechanically strong macroscopic structures and self-heal upon contact with water. We demonstrated the integration of biofilm through three simple, fast, and scalable methods: adsorption, doctor blading, and vacuum filtration. We confirmed that the composites were breathable and mechanically strong after the integration, with improved Young's moduli or elongation at break depending on the fabrication method used. Through patching and welding, we showed that after rehydration, the composites made with all three methods effectively healed centimeter-scale defects. Upon observing that the biofilm strongly attached to the textiles by covering the extruding textile fibers from the self-repair failures, we proposed that the strength of the self-repairs relied on both the biofilm's cohesion and the biofilm-textile adhesion. Considering that curli fibers are genetically-tunable, the fabrication of self-repairing curli-expressing biofilm-textile composites opens new venues for industrially manufacturing affordable, durable, and sustainable functional textiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anqi Cai
- Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, 3610 University Street, Montreal, QC, H3A 0C5, Canada
| | - Zahra Abdali
- Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, 3610 University Street, Montreal, QC, H3A 0C5, Canada
| | - Dalia Jane Saldanha
- Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, 3610 University Street, Montreal, QC, H3A 0C5, Canada
| | - Masoud Aminzare
- Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, 3610 University Street, Montreal, QC, H3A 0C5, Canada
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9
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Sarlet A, Ruffine V, Blank KG, Bidan CM. Influence of Metal Cations on the Viscoelastic Properties of Escherichia coli Biofilms. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:4667-4676. [PMID: 36777596 PMCID: PMC9910073 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c06438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Biofilms frequently cause complications in various areas of human life, e.g., in medicine and in the food industry. More recently, biofilms are discussed as new types of living materials with tunable mechanical properties. In particular, Escherichia coli produces a matrix composed of amyloid-forming curli and phosphoethanolamine-modified cellulose fibers in response to suboptimal environmental conditions. It is currently unknown how the interaction between these fibers contributes to the overall mechanical properties of the formed biofilms and if extrinsic control parameters can be utilized to manipulate these properties. Using shear rheology, we show that biofilms formed by the E. coli K-12 strain AR3110 stiffen by a factor of 2 when exposed to the trivalent metal cations Al(III) and Fe(III), while no such response is observed for the bivalent cations Zn(II) and Ca(II). Strains producing only one matrix component did not show any stiffening response to either cation or even a small softening. No stiffening response was further observed when strains producing only one type of fiber were co-cultured or simply mixed after biofilm growth. These results suggest that the E. coli biofilm matrix is a uniquely structured composite material when both matrix fibers are produced from the same bacterium. While the exact interaction mechanism between curli, phosphoethanolamine-modified cellulose, and trivalent metal cations is currently not known, our results highlight the potential of using extrinsic parameters to understand and control the interplay between biofilm structure and mechanical properties. This will ultimately aid in the development of better strategies for controlling biofilm growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrien Sarlet
- Department
of Biomaterials, Max Planck Institute of
Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476Potsdam, Germany
| | - Valentin Ruffine
- Mechano(bio)chemistry, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476Potsdam, Germany
| | - Kerstin G. Blank
- Mechano(bio)chemistry, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476Potsdam, Germany
- Institute
of Experimental Physics, Johannes Kepler
University, Altenberger
Str. 69, 4040Linz, Austria
| | - Cécile M. Bidan
- Department
of Biomaterials, Max Planck Institute of
Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476Potsdam, Germany
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10
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Winans JB, Wucher BR, Nadell CD. Multispecies biofilm architecture determines bacterial exposure to phages. PLoS Biol 2022; 20:e3001913. [PMID: 36548227 PMCID: PMC9778933 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Numerous ecological interactions among microbes-for example, competition for space and resources, or interaction among phages and their bacterial hosts-are likely to occur simultaneously in multispecies biofilm communities. While biofilms formed by just a single species occur, multispecies biofilms are thought to be more typical of microbial communities in the natural environment. Previous work has shown that multispecies biofilms can increase, decrease, or have no measurable impact on phage exposure of a host bacterium living alongside another species that the phages cannot target. The reasons underlying this variability are not well understood, and how phage-host encounters change within multispecies biofilms remains mostly unexplored at the cellular spatial scale. Here, we study how the cellular scale architecture of model 2-species biofilms impacts cell-cell and cell-phage interactions controlling larger scale population and community dynamics. Our system consists of dual culture biofilms of Escherichia coli and Vibrio cholerae under exposure to T7 phages, which we study using microfluidic culture, high-resolution confocal microscopy imaging, and detailed image analysis. As shown previously, sufficiently mature biofilms of E. coli can protect themselves from phage exposure via their curli matrix. Before this stage of biofilm structural maturity, E. coli is highly susceptible to phages; however, we show that these bacteria can gain lasting protection against phage exposure if they have become embedded in the bottom layers of highly packed groups of V. cholerae in co-culture. This protection, in turn, is dependent on the cell packing architecture controlled by V. cholerae biofilm matrix secretion. In this manner, E. coli cells that are otherwise susceptible to phage-mediated killing can survive phage exposure in the absence of de novo resistance evolution. While co-culture biofilm formation with V. cholerae can confer phage protection to E. coli, it comes at the cost of competing with V. cholerae and a disruption of normal curli-mediated protection for E. coli even in dual species biofilms grown over long time scales. This work highlights the critical importance of studying multispecies biofilm architecture and its influence on the community dynamics of bacteria and phages.
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Affiliation(s)
- James B. Winans
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America
| | - Benjamin R. Wucher
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America
| | - Carey D. Nadell
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America
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11
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Surapaneni VA, Schindler M, Ziege R, de Faria LC, Wölfer J, Bidan CM, Mollen FH, Amini S, Hanna S, Dean MN. Groovy and Gnarly: Surface Wrinkles as a Multifunctional Motif for Terrestrial and Marine Environments. Integr Comp Biol 2022; 62:icac079. [PMID: 35675323 PMCID: PMC9703940 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icac079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
From large ventral pleats of humpback whales to nanoscale ridges on flower petals, wrinkled structures are omnipresent, multifunctional, and found at hugely diverse scales. Depending on the particulars of the biological system-its environment, morphology, and mechanical properties-wrinkles may control adhesion, friction, wetting, or drag; promote interfacial exchange; act as flow channels; or contribute to stretching, mechanical integrity, or structural color. Undulations on natural surfaces primarily arise from stress-induced instabilities of surface layers (e.g., buckling) during growth or aging. Variation in the material properties of surface layers and in the magnitude and orientation of intrinsic stresses during growth lead to a variety of wrinkling morphologies and patterns which, in turn, reflect the wide range of biophysical challenges wrinkled surfaces can solve. Therefore, investigating how surface wrinkles vary and are implemented across biological systems is key to understanding their structure-function relationships. In this work, we synthesize the literature in a metadata analysis of surface wrinkling in various terrestrial and marine organisms to review important morphological parameters and classify functional aspects of surface wrinkles in relation to the size and ecology of organisms. Building on our previous and current experimental studies, we explore case studies on nano/micro-scale wrinkles in biofilms, plant surfaces, and basking shark filter structures to compare developmental and structure-vs-function aspects of wrinkles with vastly different size scales and environmental demands. In doing this and by contrasting wrinkle development in soft and hard biological systems, we provide a template of structure-function relationships of biological surface wrinkles and an outlook for functionalized wrinkled biomimetic surfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Venkata A Surapaneni
- City University of Hong Kong, 31 To Yuen Street, Kowloon, Hong Kong
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, Potsdam, Brandenburg 14476, Germany
| | - Mike Schindler
- City University of Hong Kong, 31 To Yuen Street, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Ricardo Ziege
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, Potsdam, Brandenburg 14476, Germany
| | | | - Jan Wölfer
- Humboldt University of Berlin, Unter den Linden 6, Berlin 10099, Germany
| | - Cécile M Bidan
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, Potsdam, Brandenburg 14476, Germany
| | - Frederik H Mollen
- Elasmobranch Research Belgium, Rehaegenstraat 4, 2820 Bonheiden, Belgium
| | - Shahrouz Amini
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, Potsdam, Brandenburg 14476, Germany
| | - Sean Hanna
- University College London, 14 Upper Woburn Place, London WC1H 0NN, UK
| | - Mason N Dean
- City University of Hong Kong, 31 To Yuen Street, Kowloon, Hong Kong
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, Potsdam, Brandenburg 14476, Germany
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