Elasticity and wrinkled morphology of Bacillus subtilis pellicles.

ABSTRACT: Wrinkled morphology is a distinctive phenotype observed in mature biofilms produced by a great number of bacteria. Here we study the formation of macroscopic structures (wrinkles and folds) observed during the maturation of Bacillus subtilis pellicles in relation to their mechanical response. We show how the mechanical buckling instability can explain their formation. By performing simple tests, we highlight the role of confining geometry and growth in determining the symmetry of wrinkles. We also experimentally demonstrate that the pellicles are soft elastic materials for small deformations induced by a tensile device. The wrinkled structures are then described by using the equations of elastic plates, which include the growth process as a simple parameter representing biomass production.

SUBMITTER: Trejo M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3568355 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature