Shaping the growth behaviour of biofilms initiated from bacterial aggregates

Gavin Melaugh, Jaime Hutchison, Kasper Nørskov Kragh, Yasuhiko Irie, Aled Roberts, Thomas Bjarnsholt, Stephen P. Diggle, Vernita D. Gordon, Rosalind J. Allen

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

63 Citations (Scopus)
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Abstract

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.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere0149683
JournalP L o S One
Volume11
Issue number3
Number of pages18
ISSN1932-6203
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2 Mar 2016

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