Bacterial surface colonization, preferential attachment and fitness under periodic stress.

ABSTRACT: Early bacterial surface colonization is not a random process wherein cells arbitrarily attach to surfaces and grow; but rather, attachment events, movement and cellular interactions induce non-random spatial organization. We have only begun to understand how the apparent self-organization affects the fitness of the population. A key factor contributing to fitness is the tradeoff between solitary-planktonic and aggregated surface-attached biofilm lifestyles. Though planktonic cells typically grow faster, bacteria in aggregates are more resistant to stress such as desiccation, antibiotics and predation. Here we ask if and to what extent informed surface-attachments improve fitness during early surface colonization under periodic stress conditions. We use an individual-based modeling approach

SUBMITTER: Grinberg M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6420035 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature