Shaping the growth behaviour of biofilms initiated from bacterial aggregates

TY - JOUR

T1 - Shaping the growth behaviour of biofilms initiated from bacterial aggregates

AU - Melaugh, Gavin

AU - Hutchison, Jaime

AU - Kragh, Kasper Nørskov

AU - Irie, Yasuhiko

AU - Roberts, Aled

AU - Bjarnsholt, Thomas

AU - Diggle, Stephen P.

AU - Gordon, Vernita D.

AU - Allen, Rosalind J.

PY - 2016/3/2

Y1 - 2016/3/2

N2 - Bacterial biofilms are usually assumed to originate from individual cells deposited on a surface. However, many biofilm-forming bacteria tend to aggregate in the planktonic phase so that it is possible that many natural and infectious biofilms originate wholly or partially from pre-formed cell aggregates. Here, we use agent-based computer simulations to investigate the role of pre-formed aggregates in biofilm development. Focusing on the initial shape the aggregate forms on the surface, we find that the degree of spreading of an aggregate on a surface can play an important role in determining its eventual fate during biofilm development. Specifically, initially spread aggregates perform better when competition with surrounding unaggregated bacterial cells is low, while initially rounded aggregates perform better when competition with surrounding unaggregated cells is high. These contrasting outcomes are governed by a trade-off between aggregate surface area and height. Our results provide new insight into biofilm formation and development, and reveal new factors that may be at play in the social evolution of biofilm communities.

AB - Bacterial biofilms are usually assumed to originate from individual cells deposited on a surface. However, many biofilm-forming bacteria tend to aggregate in the planktonic phase so that it is possible that many natural and infectious biofilms originate wholly or partially from pre-formed cell aggregates. Here, we use agent-based computer simulations to investigate the role of pre-formed aggregates in biofilm development. Focusing on the initial shape the aggregate forms on the surface, we find that the degree of spreading of an aggregate on a surface can play an important role in determining its eventual fate during biofilm development. Specifically, initially spread aggregates perform better when competition with surrounding unaggregated bacterial cells is low, while initially rounded aggregates perform better when competition with surrounding unaggregated cells is high. These contrasting outcomes are governed by a trade-off between aggregate surface area and height. Our results provide new insight into biofilm formation and development, and reveal new factors that may be at play in the social evolution of biofilm communities.

U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0149683

DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0149683

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 26934187

AN - SCOPUS:84960919584

SN - 1932-6203

VL - 11

JO - PLoS Computational Biology

JF - PLoS Computational Biology

IS - 3

M1 - e0149683

ER -