1
|
Lohrmann C, Holm C. Optimal motility strategies for self-propelled agents to explore porous media. Phys Rev E 2023; 108:054401. [PMID: 38115480 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.108.054401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Microrobots for, e.g., biomedical applications, need to be equipped with motility strategies that enable them to navigate through complex environments. Inspired by biological microorganisms we re-create motility patterns such as run-and-reverse, run-and-tumble, or run-reverse-flick applied to active rodlike particles in silico. We investigate their capability to efficiently explore disordered porous environments with various porosities and mean pore sizes ranging down to the scale of the active particle. By calculating the effective diffusivity for the different patterns, we can predict the optimal one for each porous sample geometry. We find that providing the agent with very basic sensing and decision-making capabilities yields a motility pattern outperforming the biologically inspired patterns for all investigated porous samples.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Lohrmann
- Institute for Computational Physics, University of Stuttgart, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Christian Holm
- Institute for Computational Physics, University of Stuttgart, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Kinosita Y, Sowa Y. Flagellar polymorphism-dependent bacterial swimming motility in a structured environment. Biophys Physicobiol 2023; 20:e200024. [PMID: 37867560 PMCID: PMC10587448 DOI: 10.2142/biophysico.bppb-v20.0024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Most motile bacteria use supramolecular motility machinery called bacterial flagellum, which converts the chemical energy gained from ion flux into mechanical rotation. Bacterial cells sense their external environment through a two-component regulatory system consisting of a histidine kinase and response regulator. Combining these systems allows the cells to move toward favorable environments and away from their repellents. A representative example of flagellar motility is run-and-tumble swimming in Escherichia coli, where the counter-clockwise (CCW) rotation of a flagellar bundle propels the cell forward, and the clockwise (CW) rotation undergoes cell re-orientation (tumbling) upon switching the direction of flagellar motor rotation from CCW to CW. In this mini review, we focus on several types of chemotactic behaviors that respond to changes in flagellar shape and direction of rotation. Moreover, our single-cell analysis demonstrated back-and-forth swimming motility of an original E. coli strain. We propose that polymorphic flagellar changes are required to enhance bacterial movement in a structured environment as a colony spread on an agar plate.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Yoshiyuki Sowa
- Department of Frontier Bioscience, Hosei University, Tokyo 184-8584, Japan
- Research Center for Micro-Nano Technology, Hosei University, Tokyo 184-8584, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Snyder C, Centlivre JP, Bhute S, Shipman G, Friel AD, Viver T, Palmer M, Konstantinidis KT, Sun HJ, Rossello-Mora R, Nadeau J, Hedlund BP. Microbial Motility at the Bottom of North America: Digital Holographic Microscopy and Genomic Motility Signatures in Badwater Spring, Death Valley National Park. ASTROBIOLOGY 2023; 23:295-307. [PMID: 36625891 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2022.0090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Motility is widely distributed across the tree of life and can be recognized by microscopy regardless of phylogenetic affiliation, biochemical composition, or mechanism. Microscopy has thus been proposed as a potential tool for detection of biosignatures for extraterrestrial life; however, traditional light microscopy is poorly suited for this purpose, as it requires sample preparation, involves fragile moving parts, and has a limited volume of view. In this study, we deployed a field-portable digital holographic microscope (DHM) to explore microbial motility in Badwater Spring, a saline spring in Death Valley National Park, and complemented DHM imaging with 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and shotgun metagenomics. The DHM identified diverse morphologies and distinguished run-reverse-flick and run-reverse types of flagellar motility. PICRUSt2- and literature-based predictions based on 16S rRNA gene amplicons were used to predict motility genotypes/phenotypes for 36.0-60.1% of identified taxa, with the predicted motile taxa being dominated by members of Burkholderiaceae and Spirochaetota. A shotgun metagenome confirmed the abundance of genes encoding flagellar motility, and a Ralstonia metagenome-assembled genome encoded a full flagellar gene cluster. This study demonstrates the potential of DHM for planetary life detection, presents the first microbial census of Badwater Spring and brine pool, and confirms the abundance of mobile microbial taxa in an extreme environment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carl Snyder
- Department of Physics, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Jakob P Centlivre
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
| | - Shrikant Bhute
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
| | - Gözde Shipman
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
| | - Ariel D Friel
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
| | - Tomeu Viver
- Marine Microbiology Group, Department of Animal and Microbial Biodiversity, Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies (CSIC-UIB), Esporles, Illes Balears, Spain
| | - Marike Palmer
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
| | | | - Henry J Sun
- Desert Research Institute, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
| | - Ramon Rossello-Mora
- Marine Microbiology Group, Department of Animal and Microbial Biodiversity, Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies (CSIC-UIB), Esporles, Illes Balears, Spain
| | - Jay Nadeau
- Department of Physics, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Brian P Hedlund
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
- Nevada Institute of Personalized Medicine, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Bansil R, Constantino MA, Su-Arcaro C, Liao W, Shen Z, Fox JG. Motility of Different Gastric Helicobacter spp. Microorganisms 2023; 11:634. [PMID: 36985208 PMCID: PMC10058440 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11030634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Helicobacter spp., including the well-known human gastric pathogen H. pylori, can cause gastric diseases in humans and other mammals. They are Gram-negative bacteria that colonize the gastric epithelium and use their multiple flagella to move across the protective gastric mucus layer. The flagella of different Helicobacter spp. vary in their location and number. This review focuses on the swimming characteristics of different species with different flagellar architectures and cell shapes. All Helicobacter spp. use a run-reverse-reorient mechanism to swim in aqueous solutions, as well as in gastric mucin. Comparisons of different strains and mutants of H. pylori varying in cell shape and the number of flagella show that their swimming speed increases with an increasing number of flagella and is somewhat enhanced with a helical cell body shape. The swimming mechanism of H. suis, which has bipolar flagella, is more complex than that of unipolar H. pylori. H. suis exhibits multiple modes of flagellar orientation while swimming. The pH-dependent viscosity and gelation of gastric mucin significantly impact the motility of Helicobacter spp. In the absence of urea, these bacteria do not swim in mucin gel at pH < 4, even though their flagellar bundle rotates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rama Bansil
- Department of Physics, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | | | | | - Wentian Liao
- Department of Physics, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Zeli Shen
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - James G. Fox
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Role of the Two Flagellar Stators in Swimming Motility of Pseudomonas putida. mBio 2022; 13:e0218222. [PMID: 36409076 PMCID: PMC9765564 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02182-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In the soil bacterium Pseudomonas putida, the motor torque for flagellar rotation is generated by the two stators MotAB and MotCD. Here, we construct mutant strains in which one or both stators are knocked out and investigate their swimming motility in fluids of different viscosity and in heterogeneous structured environments (semisolid agar). Besides phase-contrast imaging of single-cell trajectories and spreading cultures, dual-color fluorescence microscopy allows us to quantify the role of the stators in enabling P. putida's three different swimming modes, where the flagellar bundle pushes, pulls, or wraps around the cell body. The MotAB stator is essential for swimming motility in liquids, while spreading in semisolid agar is not affected. Moreover, if the MotAB stator is knocked out, wrapped mode formation under low-viscosity conditions is strongly impaired and only partly restored for increased viscosity and in semisolid agar. In contrast, when the MotCD stator is missing, cells are indistinguishable from the wild type in fluid experiments but spread much more slowly in semisolid agar. Analysis of the microscopic trajectories reveals that the MotCD knockout strain forms sessile clusters, thereby reducing the number of motile cells, while the swimming speed is unaffected. Together, both stators ensure a robust wild type that swims efficiently under different environmental conditions. IMPORTANCE Because of its heterogeneous habitat, the soil bacterium Pseudomonas putida needs to swim efficiently under very different environmental conditions. In this paper, we knocked out the stators MotAB and MotCD to investigate their impact on the swimming motility of P. putida. While the MotAB stator is crucial for swimming in fluids, in semisolid agar, both stators are sufficient to sustain a fast-swimming phenotype and increased frequencies of the wrapped mode, which is known to be beneficial for escaping mechanical traps. However, in contrast to the MotAB knockout, a culture of MotCD knockout cells spreads much more slowly in the agar, as it forms nonmotile clusters that reduce the number of motile cells.
Collapse
|
6
|
Active Colloids on Fluid Interfaces. Curr Opin Colloid Interface Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cocis.2022.101629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
|
7
|
Zhang ZY, Wang YF, Kang JT, Qiu XH, Wang CG. Helical micro-swimmer: hierarchical tail design and propulsive motility. SOFT MATTER 2022; 18:6148-6156. [PMID: 35968815 DOI: 10.1039/d2sm00823h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Helical micro-swimmers have markedly extended the reach of human beings in numerous fields, ranging from in vitro tasks in lab-on-a-chip to in vivo applications for minimally invasive medicine. The previous studies on the propulsive motility optimization of the micro-swimmers mainly focused on the distinct actuation principles (e.g., chemically powered, magnetic- or ultrasound energy-driven) and paid little attention to the structural design of these swimming machines themselves. The improvements of the structures can assist the externally powered motors in providing propulsion in a tiny scale and satisfy the agile locomotion demands. This paper presents the design, mechanics modeling and available experiments of a novel type of hierarchical helical swimming robot that significantly enhances the motility of the helix-based swimmers. Validated by the resistive force theory, our numerical model can well analyze the mechanical properties with a variety of geometric parameters. The motion performance of the hierarchical and conventional helical structures in low Reynolds regimes is presented, highlighting the advantages of hierarchical swimmers over the existing typical swimmers. In addition, the stability and resilience of the hierarchical swimmers can be maintained at a decent level. Moreover, the variable forward velocity resulting from the combined hierarchical structures is investigated here, which can thereby serve as a reliable design strategy. The proposed hierarchical helical design enables enticing opportunities for various device systems of medical robots and bio-integrated electronics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Z Y Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Science and Technology for National Defence on Advanced Composites in Special Environments, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, P. R. China.
- Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Y F Wang
- Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, P. R. China
| | - J T Kang
- College of Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, P. R. China
| | - X H Qiu
- National Key Laboratory of Science and Technology for National Defence on Advanced Composites in Special Environments, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, P. R. China.
| | - C G Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Science and Technology for National Defence on Advanced Composites in Special Environments, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, P. R. China.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Lynch JB, James N, McFall-Ngai M, Ruby EG, Shin S, Takagi D. Transitioning to confined spaces impacts bacterial swimming and escape response. Biophys J 2022; 121:2653-2662. [PMID: 35398019 PMCID: PMC9300662 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Symbiotic bacteria often navigate complex environments before colonizing privileged sites in their host organism. Chemical gradients are known to facilitate directional taxis of these bacteria, guiding them toward their eventual destination. However, less is known about the role of physical features in shaping the path the bacteria take and defining how they traverse a given space. The flagellated marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri, which forms a binary symbiosis with the Hawaiian bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes, must navigate tight physical confinement during colonization, squeezing through a tissue bottleneck constricting to ∼2 μm in width on the way to its eventual home. Using microfluidic in vitro experiments, we discovered that V. fischeri cells alter their behavior upon entry into confined space, straightening their swimming paths and promoting escape from confinement. Using a computational model, we attributed this escape response to two factors: reduced directional fluctuation and a refractory period between reversals. Additional experiments in asymmetric capillary tubes confirmed that V. fischeri quickly escape from confined ends, even when drawn into the ends by chemoattraction. This avoidance was apparent down to a limit of confinement approaching the diameter of the cell itself, resulting in a balance between chemoattraction and evasion of physical confinement. Our findings demonstrate that nontrivial distributions of swimming bacteria can emerge from simple physical gradients in the level of confinement. Tight spaces may serve as an additional, crucial cue for bacteria while they navigate complex environments to enter specific habitats.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan B Lynch
- Pacific Biosciences Research Center, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawai'i.
| | - Nicholas James
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawai'i
| | - Margaret McFall-Ngai
- Pacific Biosciences Research Center, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawai'i
| | - Edward G Ruby
- Pacific Biosciences Research Center, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawai'i
| | - Sangwoo Shin
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawai'i; Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
| | - Daisuke Takagi
- Pacific Biosciences Research Center, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawai'i; Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawai'i; Department of Mathematics, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawai'i
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Abstract
A huge number of bacterial species are motile by flagella, which allow them to actively move toward favorable environments and away from hazardous areas and to conquer new habitats. The general perception of flagellum-mediated movement and chemotaxis is dominated by the Escherichia coli paradigm, with its peritrichous flagellation and its famous run-and-tumble navigation pattern, which has shaped the view on how bacteria swim and navigate in chemical gradients. However, a significant amount-more likely the majority-of bacterial species exhibit a (bi)polar flagellar localization pattern instead of lateral flagella. Accordingly, these species have evolved very different mechanisms for navigation and chemotaxis. Here, we review the earlier and recent findings on the various modes of motility mediated by polar flagella. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Microbiology, Volume 76 is September 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kai M Thormann
- Institute of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Justus Liebig University Gießen, Gießen, Germany;
| | - Carsten Beta
- Institute of Physics and Astronomy, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany;
| | - Marco J Kühn
- Institute of Bioengineering and Global Health Institute, School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland;
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Park J, Kim Y, Lee W, Lim S. Modeling of lophotrichous bacteria reveals key factors for swimming reorientation. Sci Rep 2022; 12:6482. [PMID: 35444244 PMCID: PMC9021275 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-09823-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Lophotrichous bacteria swim through fluid by rotating their flagellar bundle extended collectively from one pole of the cell body. Cells experience modes of motility such as push, pull, and wrapping, accompanied by pauses of motor rotation in between. We present a mathematical model of a lophotrichous bacterium and investigate the hydrodynamic interaction of cells to understand their swimming mechanism. We classify the swimming modes which vary depending on the bending modulus of the hook and the magnitude of applied torques on the motor. Given the hook’s bending modulus, we find that there exist corresponding critical thresholds of the magnitude of applied torques that separate wrapping from pull in CW motor rotation, and overwhirling from push in CCW motor rotation, respectively. We also investigate reoriented directions of cells in three-dimensional perspectives as the cell experiences different series of swimming modes. Our simulations show that the transition from a wrapping mode to a push mode and pauses in between are key factors to determine a new path and that the reoriented direction depends upon the start time and duration of the pauses. It is also shown that the wrapping mode may help a cell to escape from the region where the cell is trapped near a wall.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeungeun Park
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 45221, USA
| | - Yongsam Kim
- Department of Mathematics, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, 06974, Republic of Korea.
| | - Wanho Lee
- National Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Daejeon, 34047, Republic of Korea
| | - Sookkyung Lim
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 45221, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Abstract
SignificanceThe monotrichous Pseudomonas aeruginosa was usually thought to swim in a pattern of "run and reverse" (possibly with pauses in between), where straight runs alternated with reverses with angular changes of swimming direction near 180°. Here, by simultaneously tracking the cell swimming and the morphology of its flagellum, we discovered a swimming mode in P. aeruginosa-the wrap mode, during which the flagellar filament wrapped around the cell body and induced large fluctuation of the body orientation. The wrap mode randomized swimming direction, resulting in a broad distribution of angular changes over 0 to 180° with a peak near 90°. This allowed the bacterium to explore the environment more efficiently, which we confirmed by stochastic simulations of P. aeruginosa chemotaxis.
Collapse
|
12
|
Matilla MA, Velando F, Monteagudo-Cascales E, Krell T. Flagella, Chemotaxis and Surface Sensing. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2022; 1386:185-221. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-08491-1_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
|
13
|
Schwanbeck J, Oehmig I, Groß U, Zautner AE, Bohne W. Clostridioides difficile Single Cell Swimming Strategy: A Novel Motility Pattern Regulated by Viscoelastic Properties of the Environment. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:715220. [PMID: 34367119 PMCID: PMC8333305 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.715220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Flagellar motility is important for the pathogenesis of many intestinal pathogens, allowing bacteria to move to their preferred ecological niche. Clostridioides difficile is currently the major cause for bacterial health care-associated intestinal infections in the western world. Most clinical strains produce peritrichous flagella and are motile in soft-agar. However, little knowledge exists on the C. difficile swimming behaviour and its regulation at the level of individual cells. We report here on the swimming strategy of C. difficile at the single cell level and its dependency on environmental parameters. A comprehensive analysis of motility parameters from several thousand bacteria was achieved with the aid of a recently developed bacterial tracking programme. C. difficile motility was found to be strongly dependent on the matrix elasticity of the medium. Long run phases of all four motile C. difficile clades were only observed in the presence of high molecular weight molecules such as polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and mucin, which suggests an adaptation of the motility apparatus to the mucin-rich intestinal environment. Increasing mucin or PVP concentrations lead to longer and straighter runs with increased travelled distance per run and fewer turnarounds that result in a higher net displacement of the bacteria. The observed C. difficile swimming pattern under these conditions is characterised by bidirectional, alternating back and forth run phases, interrupted by a short stop without an apparent reorientation or tumbling phase. This motility type was not described before for peritrichous bacteria and is more similar to some previously described polar monotrichous bacteria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julian Schwanbeck
- Institute for Medical Microbiology and Virology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ines Oehmig
- Institute for Medical Microbiology and Virology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Uwe Groß
- Institute for Medical Microbiology and Virology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Andreas E Zautner
- Institute for Medical Microbiology and Virology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Bohne
- Institute for Medical Microbiology and Virology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Abstract
Complex dynamical fluctuations, from intracellular noise, brain dynamics or computer traffic display bursting dynamics consistent with a critical state between order and disorder. Living close to the critical point has adaptive advantages and it has been conjectured that evolution could select these critical states. Is this the case of living cells? A system can poise itself close to the critical point by means of the so-called self-organized criticality (SOC). In this paper we present an engineered gene network displaying SOC behaviour. This is achieved by exploiting the saturation of the proteolytic degradation machinery in E. coli cells by means of a negative feedback loop that reduces congestion. Our critical motif is built from a two-gene circuit, where SOC can be successfully implemented. The potential implications for both cellular dynamics and behaviour are discussed.
Collapse
|
15
|
Abstract
Living systems use catalysis to achieve chemical transformations to comply with their needs in terms of energy and building blocks. The pH is a powerful means to regulate such processes, which also influences synthetic systems. In fact, the pH sensitivity of artificial photocatalysts, such as bismuth vanadate, bears the strong potential of flexibly influencing both the motion pattern and the speed of catalytic microswimmers, but it has rarely been investigated to date. In this work, we first present a comprehensive view of the motion behavior of differently shaped bismuth vanadate microswimmers, discuss influences, such as shape, pH, and conductivity of the solutions, and find that the motion pattern of the swimmers switches between upright and horizontal at their point of zero charge. We then apply an immobilizable hydroxypyrene derivative to our substrates to locally influence the pH of the solution by excited-state proton transfer. We find that the motion pattern of our swimmers is strongly influenced by this functionalization and a third motion mode, called tumbling, is introduced. Taking other effects, such as an increased surface roughness of the modified substrates, into account, we critically discuss possible future developments.
Collapse
|
16
|
Grognot M, Taute KM. More than propellers: how flagella shape bacterial motility behaviors. Curr Opin Microbiol 2021; 61:73-81. [PMID: 33845324 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2021.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Bacteria use a wide variety of flagellar architectures to navigate their environment. While the iconic run-tumble motility strategy of the peritrichously flagellated Escherichia coli has been well studied, recent work has revealed a variety of new motility behaviors that can be achieved with different flagellar architectures, such as single, bundled, or opposing polar flagella. The recent discovery of various flagellar gymnastics such as flicking and flagellar wrapping is increasingly shifting the view from flagella as passive propellers to versatile appendages that can be used in a wide range of conformations. Here, we review recent observations of how flagella shape motility behaviors and summarize the nascent structure-function map linking flagellation and behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marianne Grognot
- Rowland Institute at Harvard, 100 Edwin H Land Blvd, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Katja M Taute
- Rowland Institute at Harvard, 100 Edwin H Land Blvd, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Stricker L, Guido I, Breithaupt T, Mazza MG, Vollmer J. Hybrid sideways/longitudinal swimming in the monoflagellate Shewanella oneidensis: from aerotactic band to biofilm. J R Soc Interface 2020; 17:20200559. [PMID: 33109020 PMCID: PMC7653395 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2020.0559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 are facultative aerobic electroactive bacteria with an appealing potential for sustainable energy production and bioremediation. They gather around air sources, forming aerotactic bands and biofilms. Here, we experimentally follow the evolution of the band around an air bubble, and we find good agreement with the numerical solutions of the pertinent transport equations. Video microscopy reveals a transition between motile and non-motile MR-1 upon oxygen depletion, preventing further development of the biofilm. We discover that MR-1 can alternate between longitudinal fast and sideways slow swimming. The resulting bimodal velocity distributions change in response to different oxygen concentrations and gradients, supporting the biological functions of aerotaxis and confinement.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Stricker
- ETH Zürich, Department of Materials, Polymer Physics, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Isabella Guido
- Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization (MPIDS), 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Thomas Breithaupt
- Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization (MPIDS), 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Marco G. Mazza
- Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization (MPIDS), 37077 Göttingen, Germany
- Loughborough University, Interdisciplinary Centre for Mathematical Modelling and Department of Mathematical Sciences, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 3TU, UK
| | - Jürgen Vollmer
- University of Leipzig, Institute of Theoretical Physics, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Kinosita Y, Ishida T, Yoshida M, Ito R, Morimoto YV, Goto K, Berry RM, Nishizaka T, Sowa Y. Distinct chemotactic behavior in the original Escherichia coli K-12 depending on forward-and-backward swimming, not on run-tumble movements. Sci Rep 2020; 10:15887. [PMID: 32985511 PMCID: PMC7522084 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-72429-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Most motile bacteria are propelled by rigid, helical, flagellar filaments and display distinct swimming patterns to explore their favorable environments. Escherichia coli cells have a reversible rotary motor at the base of each filament. They exhibit a run-tumble swimming pattern, driven by switching of the rotational direction, which causes polymorphic flagellar transformation. Here we report a novel swimming mode in E. coli ATCC10798, which is one of the original K-12 clones. High-speed tracking of single ATCC10798 cells showed forward and backward swimming with an average turning angle of 150°. The flagellar helicity remained right-handed with a 1.3 μm pitch and 0.14 μm helix radius, which is consistent with the feature of a curly type, regardless of motor switching; the flagella of ATCC10798 did not show polymorphic transformation. The torque and rotational switching of the motor was almost identical to the E. coli W3110 strain, which is a derivative of K-12 and a wild-type for chemotaxis. The single point mutation of N87K in FliC, one of the filament subunits, is critical to the change in flagellar morphology and swimming pattern, and lack of flagellar polymorphism. E. coli cells expressing FliC(N87K) sensed ascending a chemotactic gradient in liquid but did not spread on a semi-solid surface. Based on these results, we concluded that a flagellar polymorphism is essential for spreading in structured environments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yoshiaki Kinosita
- Department of Physics, Gakushuin University, 1-5-1 Mejiro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo, 171-8588, Japan.
- Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Park load, Oxford, OX1 3PU, UK.
- Molecular Physiology Laboratory, RIKEN, Wako, Japan.
| | - Tsubasa Ishida
- Department of Frontier Bioscience and Research Center for Micro-Nano Technology, Hosei University, Tokyo, 184-8584, Japan
| | - Myu Yoshida
- Department of Frontier Bioscience and Research Center for Micro-Nano Technology, Hosei University, Tokyo, 184-8584, Japan
| | - Rie Ito
- Department of Frontier Bioscience and Research Center for Micro-Nano Technology, Hosei University, Tokyo, 184-8584, Japan
| | - Yusuke V Morimoto
- Department of Physics and Information Technology, Faculty of Computer Science and Systems Engineering, Kyushu Institute of Technology, Iizuka, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Kazuki Goto
- Department of Physics, Gakushuin University, 1-5-1 Mejiro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo, 171-8588, Japan
| | - Richard M Berry
- Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Park load, Oxford, OX1 3PU, UK
| | - Takayuki Nishizaka
- Department of Physics, Gakushuin University, 1-5-1 Mejiro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo, 171-8588, Japan
| | - Yoshiyuki Sowa
- Department of Frontier Bioscience and Research Center for Micro-Nano Technology, Hosei University, Tokyo, 184-8584, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Muhammad MH, Idris AL, Fan X, Guo Y, Yu Y, Jin X, Qiu J, Guan X, Huang T. Beyond Risk: Bacterial Biofilms and Their Regulating Approaches. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:928. [PMID: 32508772 PMCID: PMC7253578 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.00928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 270] [Impact Index Per Article: 67.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial biofilms are complex surface attached communities of bacteria held together by self-produced polymer matrixs mainly composed of polysaccharides, secreted proteins, and extracellular DNAs. Bacterial biofilm formation is a complex process and can be described in five main phases: (i) reversible attachment phase, where bacteria non-specifically attach to surfaces; (ii) irreversible attachment phase, which involves interaction between bacterial cells and a surface using bacterial adhesins such as fimbriae and lipopolysaccharide (LPS); (iii) production of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) by the resident bacterial cells; (iv) biofilm maturation phase, in which bacterial cells synthesize and release signaling molecules to sense the presence of each other, conducing to the formation of microcolony and maturation of biofilms; and (v) dispersal/detachment phase, where the bacterial cells depart biofilms and comeback to independent planktonic lifestyle. Biofilm formation is detrimental in healthcare, drinking water distribution systems, food, and marine industries, etc. As a result, current studies have been focused toward control and prevention of biofilms. In an effort to get rid of harmful biofilms, various techniques and approaches have been employed that interfere with bacterial attachment, bacterial communication systems (quorum sensing, QS), and biofilm matrixs. Biofilms, however, also offer beneficial roles in a variety of fields including applications in plant protection, bioremediation, wastewater treatment, and corrosion inhibition amongst others. Development of beneficial biofilms can be promoted through manipulation of adhesion surfaces, QS and environmental conditions. This review describes the events involved in bacterial biofilm formation, lists the negative and positive aspects associated with bacterial biofilms, elaborates the main strategies currently used to regulate establishment of harmful bacterial biofilms as well as certain strategies employed to encourage formation of beneficial bacterial biofilms, and highlights the future perspectives of bacterial biofilms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Tianpei Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops & Key Laboratory of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences & College of Plant Protection & International College, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
|
21
|
Alirezaeizanjani Z, Großmann R, Pfeifer V, Hintsche M, Beta C. Chemotaxis strategies of bacteria with multiple run modes. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2020; 6:eaaz6153. [PMID: 32766440 PMCID: PMC7385427 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aaz6153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2019] [Accepted: 03/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial chemotaxis-a fundamental example of directional navigation in the living world-is key to many biological processes, including the spreading of bacterial infections. Many bacterial species were recently reported to exhibit several distinct swimming modes-the flagella may, for example, push the cell body or wrap around it. How do the different run modes shape the chemotaxis strategy of a multimode swimmer? Here, we investigate chemotactic motion of the soil bacterium Pseudomonas putida as a model organism. By simultaneously tracking the position of the cell body and the configuration of its flagella, we demonstrate that individual run modes show different chemotactic responses in nutrition gradients and, thus, constitute distinct behavioral states. On the basis of an active particle model, we demonstrate that switching between multiple run states that differ in their speed and responsiveness provides the basis for robust and efficient chemotaxis in complex natural habitats.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Robert Großmann
- Institute of Physics and Astronomy, University of Potsdam, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Veronika Pfeifer
- Institute of Physics and Astronomy, University of Potsdam, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Marius Hintsche
- Institute of Physics and Astronomy, University of Potsdam, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | | |
Collapse
|
22
|
Aschtgen MS, Brennan CA, Nikolakakis K, Cohen S, McFall-Ngai M, Ruby EG. Insights into flagellar function and mechanism from the squid-vibrio symbiosis. NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes 2019; 5:32. [PMID: 31666982 PMCID: PMC6814793 DOI: 10.1038/s41522-019-0106-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/03/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Flagella are essential and multifunctional nanomachines that not only move symbionts towards their tissue colonization site, but also play multiple roles in communicating with the host. Thus, untangling the activities of flagella in reaching, interacting, and signaling the host, as well as in biofilm formation and the establishment of a persistent colonization, is a complex problem. The squid-vibrio system offers a unique model to study the many ways that bacterial flagella can influence a beneficial association and, generally, other bacteria-host interactions. Vibrio fischeri is a bioluminescent bacterium that colonizes the Hawaiian bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes. Over the last 15 years, the structure, assembly, and functions of V. fischeri flagella, including not only motility and chemotaxis, but also biofilm formation and symbiotic signaling, have been revealed. Here we discuss these discoveries in the perspective of other host-bacteria interactions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Stephanie Aschtgen
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706 USA
- Present Address: Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institute, Solna, 171 76 Sweden
| | - Caitlin A. Brennan
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706 USA
- Present Address: Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115 USA
| | - Kiel Nikolakakis
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706 USA
- Present Address: Department of Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Wisconsin – Green Bay, Green Bay, WI 54311 USA
| | - Stephanie Cohen
- Laboratory for Biological Geochemistry, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, and Center for Advanced Surface Analysis, Institute of Earth Sciences, Université de Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Kewalo Marine Laboratory, University of Hawaii-Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96813 USA
| | | | - Edward G. Ruby
- Kewalo Marine Laboratory, University of Hawaii-Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96813 USA
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Hook AL, Flewellen JL, Dubern JF, Carabelli AM, Zaid IM, Berry RM, Wildman RD, Russell N, Williams P, Alexander MR. Simultaneous Tracking of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Motility in Liquid and at the Solid-Liquid Interface Reveals Differential Roles for the Flagellar Stators. mSystems 2019; 4:e00390-19. [PMID: 31551402 PMCID: PMC6759568 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00390-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Accepted: 09/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteria sense chemicals, surfaces, and other cells and move toward some and away from others. Studying how single bacterial cells in a population move requires sophisticated tracking and imaging techniques. We have established quantitative methodology for label-free imaging and tracking of individual bacterial cells simultaneously within the bulk liquid and at solid-liquid interfaces by utilizing the imaging modes of digital holographic microscopy (DHM) in three dimensions (3D), differential interference contrast (DIC), and total internal reflectance microscopy (TIRM) in two dimensions (2D) combined with analysis protocols employing bespoke software. To exemplify and validate this methodology, we investigated the swimming behavior of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa wild-type strain and isogenic flagellar stator mutants (motAB and motCD) within the bulk liquid and at the surface at the single-cell and population levels. Multiple motile behaviors were observed that could be differentiated by speed and directionality. Both stator mutants swam slower and were unable to adjust to the near-surface environment as effectively as the wild type, highlighting differential roles for the stators in adapting to near-surface environments. A significant reduction in run speed was observed for the P. aeruginosa mot mutants, which decreased further on entering the near-surface environment. These results are consistent with the mot stators playing key roles in responding to the near-surface environment.IMPORTANCE We have established a methodology to enable the movement of individual bacterial cells to be followed within a 3D space without requiring any labeling. Such an approach is important to observe and understand how bacteria interact with surfaces and form biofilm. We investigated the swimming behavior of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which has two flagellar stators that drive its swimming motion. Mutants that had only either one of the two stators swam slower and were unable to adjust to the near-surface environment as effectively as the wild type. These results are consistent with the mot stators playing key roles in responding to the near-surface environment and could be used by bacteria to sense via their flagella when they are near a surface.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew L Hook
- Advanced Materials and Healthcare Technologies Division, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - James L Flewellen
- Immune Receptor Activation Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Division of Immunology and Inflammation, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Physics, Clarendon Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Jean-Frédéric Dubern
- Centre for Biomolecular Sciences, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Alessandro M Carabelli
- Advanced Materials and Healthcare Technologies Division, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
- Centre for Biomolecular Sciences, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Irwin M Zaid
- Department of Physics, Clarendon Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Richard M Berry
- Department of Physics, Clarendon Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Ricky D Wildman
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Noah Russell
- Marine Biological Association, The Laboratory, Plymouth, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Williams
- Centre for Biomolecular Sciences, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Morgan R Alexander
- Advanced Materials and Healthcare Technologies Division, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Bergeau D, Mazurier S, Barbey C, Merieau A, Chane A, Goux D, Bernard S, Driouich A, Lemanceau P, Vicré M, Latour X. Unusual extracellular appendages deployed by the model strain Pseudomonas fluorescens C7R12. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0221025. [PMID: 31461454 PMCID: PMC6713353 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0221025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2019] [Accepted: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Pseudomonas fluorescens is considered to be a typical plant-associated saprophytic bacterium with no pathogenic potential. Indeed, some P. fluorescens strains are well-known rhizobacteria that promote plant growth by direct stimulation, by preventing the deleterious effects of pathogens, or both. Pseudomonas fluorescens C7R12 is a rhizosphere-competent strain that is effective as a biocontrol agent and promotes plant growth and arbuscular mycorrhization. This strain has been studied in detail, but no visual evidence has ever been obtained for extracellular structures potentially involved in its remarkable fitness and biocontrol performances. On transmission electron microscopy of negatively stained C7R12 cells, we observed the following appendages: multiple polar flagella, an inducible putative type three secretion system typical of phytopathogenic Pseudomonas syringae strains and densely bundled fimbria-like appendages forming a broad fractal-like dendritic network around single cells and microcolonies. The deployment of one or other of these elements on the bacterial surface depends on the composition and affinity for the water of the microenvironment. The existence, within this single strain, of machineries known to be involved in motility, chemotaxis, hypersensitive response, cellular adhesion and biofilm formation, may partly explain the strong interactions of strain C7R12 with plants and associated microflora in addition to the type three secretion system previously shown to be implied in mycorrhizae promotion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dorian Bergeau
- Laboratoire de Microbiologie Signaux et Microenvironnement (LMSM EA 4312)—Normandie Université - LMSM, Evreux, France
| | - Sylvie Mazurier
- Agroécologie, AgroSup Dijon, INRA, Univ. Bourgogne, Univ. Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Corinne Barbey
- Laboratoire de Microbiologie Signaux et Microenvironnement (LMSM EA 4312)—Normandie Université - LMSM, Evreux, France
- Structure Fédérative de Recherche Normandie Végétale 4277 (NORVEGE), Normandie, France
| | - Annabelle Merieau
- Laboratoire de Microbiologie Signaux et Microenvironnement (LMSM EA 4312)—Normandie Université - LMSM, Evreux, France
- Structure Fédérative de Recherche Normandie Végétale 4277 (NORVEGE), Normandie, France
| | - Andrea Chane
- Laboratoire de Microbiologie Signaux et Microenvironnement (LMSM EA 4312)—Normandie Université - LMSM, Evreux, France
| | - Didier Goux
- Centre de Microscopie Appliquée à la biologie, SFR 4206 ICORE Université de Caen Normandie (CMAbio3), Caen, France
| | - Sophie Bernard
- Structure Fédérative de Recherche Normandie Végétale 4277 (NORVEGE), Normandie, France
- Laboratoire de Glycobiologie et Matrice Extracellulaire Végétale—Normandie Université - EA 4358 Université de Rouen, Mont-Saint-Aignan, France
| | - Azeddine Driouich
- Structure Fédérative de Recherche Normandie Végétale 4277 (NORVEGE), Normandie, France
- Laboratoire de Glycobiologie et Matrice Extracellulaire Végétale—Normandie Université - EA 4358 Université de Rouen, Mont-Saint-Aignan, France
| | - Philippe Lemanceau
- Agroécologie, AgroSup Dijon, INRA, Univ. Bourgogne, Univ. Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Maïté Vicré
- Structure Fédérative de Recherche Normandie Végétale 4277 (NORVEGE), Normandie, France
- Laboratoire de Glycobiologie et Matrice Extracellulaire Végétale—Normandie Université - EA 4358 Université de Rouen, Mont-Saint-Aignan, France
| | - Xavier Latour
- Laboratoire de Microbiologie Signaux et Microenvironnement (LMSM EA 4312)—Normandie Université - LMSM, Evreux, France
- Structure Fédérative de Recherche Normandie Végétale 4277 (NORVEGE), Normandie, France
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Mukherjee T, Elmas M, Vo L, Alexiades V, Hong T, Alexandre G. Multiple CheY Homologs Control Swimming Reversals and Transient Pauses in Azospirillum brasilense. Biophys J 2019; 116:1527-1537. [PMID: 30975454 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2019.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2018] [Revised: 02/26/2019] [Accepted: 03/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemotaxis, together with motility, helps bacteria foraging in their habitat. Motile bacteria exhibit a variety of motility patterns, often controlled by chemotaxis, to promote dispersal. Motility in many bacteria is powered by a bidirectional flagellar motor. The flagellar motor has been known to briefly pause during rotation because of incomplete reversals or stator detachment. Transient pauses were previously observed in bacterial strains lacking CheY, and these events could not be explained by incomplete motor reversals or stator detachment. Here, we systematically analyzed swimming trajectories of various chemotaxis mutants of the monotrichous soil bacterium, Azospirillum brasilense. Like other polar flagellated bacterium, the main swimming pattern in A. brasilense is run and reverse. A. brasilense also uses run-pauses and putative run-reverse-flick-like swimming patterns, although these are rare events. A. brasilense mutant derivatives lacking the chemotaxis master histidine kinase, CheA4, or the central response regulator, CheY7, also showed transient pauses. Strikingly, the frequency of transient pauses increased dramatically in the absence of CheY4. Our findings collectively suggest that reversals and pauses are controlled through signaling by distinct CheY homologs, and thus are likely to be functionally important in the lifestyle of this soil organism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tanmoy Mukherjee
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee
| | - Mustafa Elmas
- Department of Mathematics, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee
| | - Lam Vo
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee
| | - Vasilios Alexiades
- Department of Mathematics, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee
| | - Tian Hong
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee; National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee
| | - Gladys Alexandre
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee.
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Navarrete B, Leal-Morales A, Serrano-Ron L, Sarrió M, Jiménez-Fernández A, Jiménez-Díaz L, López-Sánchez A, Govantes F. Transcriptional organization, regulation and functional analysis of flhF and fleN in Pseudomonas putida. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0214166. [PMID: 30889223 PMCID: PMC6424431 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0214166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2019] [Accepted: 03/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The Pseudomonas putida flhA-flhF-fleN-fliA cluster encodes a component of the flagellar export gate and three regulatory elements potentially involved in flagellar biogenesis and other functions. Here we show that these four genes form an operon, whose transcription is driven from the upstream PflhA promoter. A second promoter, PflhF, provides additional transcription of the three distal genes. PflhA and PflhF are σN-dependent, activated by the flagellar regulator FleQ, and negatively regulated by FleN. Motility, surface adhesion and colonization defects of a transposon insertion mutant in flhF revealed transcriptional polarity on fleN and fliA, as the former was required for strong surface adhesion and biofilm formation, and the latter was required for flagellar synthesis. On the other hand, FlhF and FleN were necessary to attain proper flagellar location and number for a fully functional flagellar complement. FleN, along with FleQ and the second messenger c-di-GMP differentially regulated transcription of lapA and the bcs operon, encoding a large adhesion protein and cellulose synthase. FleQ positively regulated the PlapA promoter and activation was antagonized by FleN and c-di-GMP. PbcsD was negatively regulated by FleQ and FleN, and repression was antagonized by c-di-GMP. FleN promoted FleQ binding to both PlapA and PbcsD in vitro, while c-di-GMP antagonized interaction with PbcsD and stimulated interaction with PlapA. A single FleQ binding site in PlapA was critical to activation in vivo. Our results suggest that FleQ, FleN and c-di-GMP cooperate to coordinate the regulation of flagellar motility and biofilm development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Blanca Navarrete
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, Universidad Pablo de Olavide/Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas/Junta de Andalucía, Sevilla, Spain
- Departamento de Biología Molecular e Ingeniería Bioquímica, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Antonio Leal-Morales
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, Universidad Pablo de Olavide/Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas/Junta de Andalucía, Sevilla, Spain
- Departamento de Biología Molecular e Ingeniería Bioquímica, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Laura Serrano-Ron
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, Universidad Pablo de Olavide/Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas/Junta de Andalucía, Sevilla, Spain
- Departamento de Biología Molecular e Ingeniería Bioquímica, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Marina Sarrió
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, Universidad Pablo de Olavide/Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas/Junta de Andalucía, Sevilla, Spain
- Departamento de Biología Molecular e Ingeniería Bioquímica, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Alicia Jiménez-Fernández
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, Universidad Pablo de Olavide/Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas/Junta de Andalucía, Sevilla, Spain
- Departamento de Biología Molecular e Ingeniería Bioquímica, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Lorena Jiménez-Díaz
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, Universidad Pablo de Olavide/Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas/Junta de Andalucía, Sevilla, Spain
- Departamento de Biología Molecular e Ingeniería Bioquímica, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Aroa López-Sánchez
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, Universidad Pablo de Olavide/Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas/Junta de Andalucía, Sevilla, Spain
- Departamento de Biología Molecular e Ingeniería Bioquímica, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Fernando Govantes
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, Universidad Pablo de Olavide/Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas/Junta de Andalucía, Sevilla, Spain
- Departamento de Biología Molecular e Ingeniería Bioquímica, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Kühn MJ, Schmidt FK, Farthing NE, Rossmann FM, Helm B, Wilson LG, Eckhardt B, Thormann KM. Spatial arrangement of several flagellins within bacterial flagella improves motility in different environments. Nat Commun 2018; 9:5369. [PMID: 30560868 PMCID: PMC6299084 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-07802-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2018] [Accepted: 11/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial flagella are helical proteinaceous fibers, composed of the protein flagellin, that confer motility to many bacterial species. The genomes of about half of all flagellated species include more than one flagellin gene, for reasons mostly unknown. Here we show that two flagellins (FlaA and FlaB) are spatially arranged in the polar flagellum of Shewanella putrefaciens, with FlaA being more abundant close to the motor and FlaB in the remainder of the flagellar filament. Observations of swimming trajectories and numerical simulations demonstrate that this segmentation improves motility in a range of environmental conditions, compared to mutants with single-flagellin filaments. In particular, it facilitates screw-like motility, which enhances cellular spreading through obstructed environments. Similar mechanisms may apply to other bacterial species and may explain the maintenance of multiple flagellins to form the flagellar filament.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marco J Kühn
- Institut für Mikrobiologie und Molekularbiologie, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen, 35392, Gießen, Germany
| | - Felix K Schmidt
- Fachbereich Physik und LOEWE Zentrum für Synthetische Mikrobiologie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, 35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - Nicola E Farthing
- Department of Physics, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK
- Department of Mathematics, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Florian M Rossmann
- Institut für Mikrobiologie und Molekularbiologie, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen, 35392, Gießen, Germany
| | - Bina Helm
- Institut für Mikrobiologie und Molekularbiologie, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen, 35392, Gießen, Germany
| | - Laurence G Wilson
- Department of Physics, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK.
| | - Bruno Eckhardt
- Fachbereich Physik und LOEWE Zentrum für Synthetische Mikrobiologie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, 35032, Marburg, Germany.
| | - Kai M Thormann
- Institut für Mikrobiologie und Molekularbiologie, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen, 35392, Gießen, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Koens L, Zhang H, Moeller M, Mourran A, Lauga E. The swimming of a deforming helix. THE EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL. E, SOFT MATTER 2018; 41:119. [PMID: 30302671 DOI: 10.1140/epje/i2018-11728-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2018] [Accepted: 09/07/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Many microorganisms and artificial microswimmers use helical appendages in order to generate locomotion. Though often rotated so as to produce thrust, some species of bacteria such Spiroplasma, Rhodobacter sphaeroides and Spirochetes induce movement by deforming a helical-shaped body. Recently, artificial devices have been created which also generate motion by deforming their helical body in a non-reciprocal way (A. Mourran et al. Adv. Mater. 29, 1604825, 2017). Inspired by these systems, we investigate the transport of a deforming helix within a viscous fluid. Specifically, we consider a swimmer that maintains a helical centreline and a single handedness while changing its helix radius, pitch and wavelength uniformly across the body. We first discuss how a deforming helix can create a non-reciprocal translational and rotational swimming stroke and identify its principle direction of motion. We then determine the leading-order physics for helices with small helix radius before considering the general behaviour for different configuration parameters and how these swimmers can be optimised. Finally, we explore how the presence of walls, gravity, and defects in the centreline allow the helical device to break symmetries, increase its speed, and generate transport in directions not available to helices in bulk fluids.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lyndon Koens
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge, Wilberforce Road, CB3 0WA, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Hang Zhang
- DWI-Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeck str. 50, D-52056, Aachen, Germany
| | - Martin Moeller
- DWI-Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeck str. 50, D-52056, Aachen, Germany
| | - Ahmed Mourran
- DWI-Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeck str. 50, D-52056, Aachen, Germany
| | - Eric Lauga
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge, Wilberforce Road, CB3 0WA, Cambridge, UK
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Constantino MA, Jabbarzadeh M, Fu HC, Shen Z, Fox JG, Haesebrouck F, Linden SK, Bansil R. Bipolar lophotrichous Helicobacter suis combine extended and wrapped flagella bundles to exhibit multiple modes of motility. Sci Rep 2018; 8:14415. [PMID: 30258065 PMCID: PMC6158295 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-32686-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2018] [Accepted: 09/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The swimming strategies of unipolar flagellated bacteria are well known but little is known about how bipolar bacteria swim. Here we examine the motility of Helicobacter suis, a bipolar gastric-ulcer-causing bacterium that infects pigs and humans. Phase-contrast microscopy of unlabeled bacteria reveals flagella bundles in two conformations, extended away from the body (E) or flipped backwards and wrapped (W) around the body. We captured videos of the transition between these two states and observed three different swimming modes in broth: with one bundle rotating wrapped around the body and the other extended (EW), both extended (EE), and both wrapped (WW). Only EW and WW modes were seen in porcine gastric mucin. The EW mode displayed ballistic trajectories while the other two displayed superdiffusive random walk trajectories with slower swimming speeds. Separation into these two categories was also observed by tracking the mean square displacement of thousands of trajectories at lower magnification. Using the Method of Regularized Stokeslets we numerically calculate the swimming dynamics of these three different swimming modes and obtain good qualitative agreement with the measurements, including the decreased speed of the less frequent modes. Our results suggest that the extended bundle dominates the swimming dynamics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Henry C Fu
- University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Zeli Shen
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - James G Fox
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
30
|
Bastos-Arrieta J, Revilla-Guarinos A, Uspal WE, Simmchen J. Bacterial Biohybrid Microswimmers. Front Robot AI 2018; 5:97. [PMID: 33500976 PMCID: PMC7805739 DOI: 10.3389/frobt.2018.00097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2018] [Accepted: 07/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Over millions of years, Nature has optimized the motion of biological systems at the micro and nanoscales. Motor proteins to motile single cells have managed to overcome Brownian motion and solve several challenges that arise at low Reynolds numbers. In this review, we will briefly describe naturally motile systems and their strategies to move, starting with a general introduction that surveys a broad range of developments, followed by an overview about the physical laws and parameters that govern and limit motion at the microscale. We characterize some of the classes of biological microswimmers that have arisen in the course of evolution, as well as the hybrid structures that have been constructed based on these, ranging from Montemagno's ATPase motor to the SpermBot. Thereafter, we maintain our focus on bacteria and their biohybrids. We introduce the inherent properties of bacteria as a natural microswimmer and explain the different principles bacteria use for their motion. We then elucidate different strategies that have been employed for the coupling of a variety of artificial microobjects to the bacterial surface, and evaluate the different effects the coupled objects have on the motion of the "biohybrid." Concluding, we give a short overview and a realistic evaluation of proposed applications in the field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Ainhoa Revilla-Guarinos
- Department of General Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - William E Uspal
- Department of Theory of Inhomogeneous Condensed Matter, Max-Planck-Institut für Intelligente Systeme, Stuttgart, Germany.,IV. Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Juliane Simmchen
- Physikalische Chemie, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Nava LG, Großmann R, Peruani F. Markovian robots: Minimal navigation strategies for active particles. Phys Rev E 2018; 97:042604. [PMID: 29758683 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.97.042604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
We explore minimal navigation strategies for active particles in complex, dynamical, external fields, introducing a class of autonomous, self-propelled particles which we call Markovian robots (MR). These machines are equipped with a navigation control system (NCS) that triggers random changes in the direction of self-propulsion of the robots. The internal state of the NCS is described by a Boolean variable that adopts two values. The temporal dynamics of this Boolean variable is dictated by a closed Markov chain-ensuring the absence of fixed points in the dynamics-with transition rates that may depend exclusively on the instantaneous, local value of the external field. Importantly, the NCS does not store past measurements of this value in continuous, internal variables. We show that despite the strong constraints, it is possible to conceive closed Markov chain motifs that lead to nontrivial motility behaviors of the MR in one, two, and three dimensions. By analytically reducing the complexity of the NCS dynamics, we obtain an effective description of the long-time motility behavior of the MR that allows us to identify the minimum requirements in the design of NCS motifs and transition rates to perform complex navigation tasks such as adaptive gradient following, detection of minima or maxima, or selection of a desired value in a dynamical, external field. We put these ideas in practice by assembling a robot that operates by the proposed minimalistic NCS to evaluate the robustness of MR, providing a proof of concept that is possible to navigate through complex information landscapes with such a simple NCS whose internal state can be stored in one bit. These ideas may prove useful for the engineering of miniaturized robots.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luis Gómez Nava
- Université Côte d'Azur, Laboratoire J. A. Dieudonné, UMR 7351 CNRS, Parc Valrose, F-06108 Nice Cedex 02, France
| | - Robert Großmann
- Université Côte d'Azur, Laboratoire J. A. Dieudonné, UMR 7351 CNRS, Parc Valrose, F-06108 Nice Cedex 02, France
| | - Fernando Peruani
- Université Côte d'Azur, Laboratoire J. A. Dieudonné, UMR 7351 CNRS, Parc Valrose, F-06108 Nice Cedex 02, France
| |
Collapse
|