A growing microcolony can survive and support persistent propagation of virulent phages

TY - JOUR

T1 - A growing microcolony can survive and support persistent propagation of virulent phages

AU - Eriksen, Rasmus Skytte

AU - Svenningsen, Sine Lo

AU - Sneppen, Kim

AU - Mitarai, Namiko

PY - 2017/1/9

Y1 - 2017/1/9

N2 - Bacteria form colonies and secrete extracellular polymeric substances that surround the individual cells. These spatial structures are often associated with collaboration and quorum sensing between the bacteria. Here we investigate the mutual protection provided by spherical growth of a monoclonal colony during exposure to phages that proliferate on its surface. As a proof of concept we exposed growing colonies of Escherichia coli to a virulent mutant of phage P1. When the colony consists of less than ∼50,000 members it is eliminated, while larger initial colonies allow long-term survival of both phage-resistant mutants and, importantly, colonies of mostly phage-sensitive members. A mathematical model predicts that colonies formed solely by phage-sensitive bacteria can survive because the growth of bacteria throughout the colony exceeds the killing of bacteria on the surface and pinpoints how the critical colony size depends on key parameters in the phage infection cycle.

AB - Bacteria form colonies and secrete extracellular polymeric substances that surround the individual cells. These spatial structures are often associated with collaboration and quorum sensing between the bacteria. Here we investigate the mutual protection provided by spherical growth of a monoclonal colony during exposure to phages that proliferate on its surface. As a proof of concept we exposed growing colonies of Escherichia coli to a virulent mutant of phage P1. When the colony consists of less than ∼50,000 members it is eliminated, while larger initial colonies allow long-term survival of both phage-resistant mutants and, importantly, colonies of mostly phage-sensitive members. A mathematical model predicts that colonies formed solely by phage-sensitive bacteria can survive because the growth of bacteria throughout the colony exceeds the killing of bacteria on the surface and pinpoints how the critical colony size depends on key parameters in the phage infection cycle.

U2 - 10.1073/pnas.1708954115

DO - 10.1073/pnas.1708954115

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 29259110

SN - 0027-8424

VL - 115

SP - 337

EP - 342

JO - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

JF - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

IS - 2

ER -