Collective polarization dynamics in bacterial colonies signify the occurrence of distinct subpopulations.

ABSTRACT: Membrane potential in bacterial systems has been shown to be dynamic and tightly related to survivability at the single-cell level. However, little is known about spatiotemporal patterns of membrane potential in bacterial colonies and biofilms. Here, we discovered a transition from uncorrelated to collective dynamics within colonies formed by the human pathogen Neisseria gonorrhoeae. In freshly assembled colonies, polarization is heterogeneous with instances of transient and uncorrelated hyper- or depolarization of individual cells. As colonies reach a critical size, the polarization behavior transitions to collective dynamics: A hyperpolarized shell forms at the center, travels radially outward, and halts several micrometers from the colony periphery. Once the shell has passed, we detect

SUBMITTER: Hennes M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9847958 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature