Enhanced propagation of motile bacteria on surfaces due to forward scattering

Stanislaw Makarchuk, Vasco C. Braz, Nuno A. M. Araújo, Lena Ciric and Giorgio Volpe ()
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Stanislaw Makarchuk: University College London
Vasco C. Braz: Universidade de Lisboa
Nuno A. M. Araújo: Universidade de Lisboa
Lena Ciric: University College London
Giorgio Volpe: University College London

Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract How motile bacteria move near a surface is a problem of fundamental biophysical interest and is key to the emergence of several phenomena of biological, ecological and medical relevance, including biofilm formation. Solid boundaries can strongly influence a cell’s propulsion mechanism, thus leading many flagellated bacteria to describe long circular trajectories stably entrapped by the surface. Experimental studies on near-surface bacterial motility have, however, neglected the fact that real environments have typical microstructures varying on the scale of the cells’ motion. Here, we show that micro-obstacles influence the propagation of peritrichously flagellated bacteria on a flat surface in a non-monotonic way. Instead of hindering it, an optimal, relatively low obstacle density can significantly enhance cells’ propagation on surfaces due to individual forward-scattering events. This finding provides insight on the emerging dynamics of chiral active matter in complex environments and inspires possible routes to control microbial ecology in natural habitats.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12010-1

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