Interaction-dependent effects of surface structure on microbial spatial self-organization.

ABSTRACT: Surface-attached microbial communities consist of different cell types that, at least to some degree, organize themselves non-randomly across space (referred to as spatial self-organization). While spatial self-organization can have important effects on the functioning, ecology and evolution of communities, the underlying determinants of spatial self-organization remain unclear. Here, we hypothesize that the presence of physical objects across a surface can have important effects on spatial self-organization. Using pairs of isogenic strains of Pseudomonas stutzeri, we performed range expansion experiments in the absence or presence of physical objects and quantified the effects on spatial self-organization. We demonstrate that physical objects create local deformities along the expa

SUBMITTER: Ciccarese D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7133532 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature