Localized electrical stimulation triggers cell-type-specific proliferation in biofilms.

ABSTRACT: Biological systems ranging from bacteria to mammals utilize electrochemical signaling. Although artificial electrochemical signals have been utilized to characterize neural tissue responses, the effects of such stimuli on non-neural systems remain unclear. To pursue this question, we developed an experimental platform that combines a microfluidic chip with a multielectrode array (MiCMA) to enable localized electrochemical stimulation of bacterial biofilms. The device also allows for the simultaneous measurement of the physiological response within the biofilm with single-cell resolution. We find that the stimulation of an electrode locally changes the ratio of the two major cell types comprising Bacillus subtilis biofilms, namely motile and extracellular-matrix-producing cells. Specificall

SUBMITTER: Comerci CJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9233089 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature