Multi-scale dynamic imaging reveals that cooperative motility behaviors promote efficient predation in bacteria

Sara Rombouts, Anna Mas, Antoine Gall (), Jean-Bernard Fiche, Tâm Mignot and Marcelo Nollmann ()
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Sara Rombouts: Centre de Biologie Structurale, CNRS UMR 5048, INSERM U1054, Université de Montpellier
Anna Mas: Centre de Biologie Structurale, CNRS UMR 5048, INSERM U1054, Université de Montpellier
Antoine Gall: Centre de Biologie Structurale, CNRS UMR 5048, INSERM U1054, Université de Montpellier
Jean-Bernard Fiche: Centre de Biologie Structurale, CNRS UMR 5048, INSERM U1054, Université de Montpellier
Tâm Mignot: Laboratoire de Chimie Bactérienne
Marcelo Nollmann: Centre de Biologie Structurale, CNRS UMR 5048, INSERM U1054, Université de Montpellier

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract Many species, such as fish schools or bird flocks, rely on collective motion to forage, prey, or escape predators. Likewise, Myxococcus xanthus forages and moves collectively to prey and feed on other bacterial species. These activities require two distinct motility machines enabling adventurous (A) and social (S) gliding, however when and how these mechanisms are used has remained elusive. Here, we address this long-standing question by applying multiscale semantic cell tracking during predation. We show that: (1) foragers and swarms can comprise A- and S-motile cells, with single cells exchanging frequently between these groups; (2) A-motility is critical to ensure the directional movement of both foragers and swarms; (3) the combined action of A- and S-motile cells within swarms leads to increased predation efficiencies. These results challenge the notion that A- and S-motilities are exclusive to foragers and swarms, and show that these machines act synergistically to enhance predation efficiency.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41193-x

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