1
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Hancock AM, Datta SS. Interplay between environmental yielding and dynamic forcing modulates bacterial growth. Biophys J 2024; 123:957-967. [PMID: 38454600 PMCID: PMC11052696 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2024.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Many bacterial habitats-ranging from gels and tissues in the body to cell-secreted exopolysaccharides in biofilms-are rheologically complex, undergo dynamic external forcing, and have unevenly distributed nutrients. How do these features jointly influence how the resident cells grow and proliferate? Here, we address this question by studying the growth of Escherichia coli dispersed in granular hydrogel matrices with defined and highly tunable structural and rheological properties, under different amounts of external forcing imposed by mechanical shaking, and in both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Our experiments establish a general principle: that the balance between the yield stress of the environment that the cells inhabit, σy, and the external stress imposed on the environment, σ, modulates bacterial growth by altering transport of essential nutrients to the cells. In particular, when σy<σ, the environment is easily fluidized and mixed over large scales, providing nutrients to the cells and sustaining complete cellular growth. By contrast, when σy>σ, the elasticity of the environment suppresses large-scale fluid mixing, limiting nutrient availability and arresting cellular growth. Our work thus reveals a new mechanism, beyond effects that change cellular behavior via local forcing, by which the rheology of the environment may modulate microbial physiology in diverse natural and industrial settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna M Hancock
- Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey
| | - Sujit S Datta
- Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey.
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2
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Balmuri SR, Noaman S, Usman H, Niepa THR. Altering the interfacial rheology of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus with N-acetyl cysteine and cysteamine. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 13:1338477. [PMID: 38304461 PMCID: PMC10834029 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1338477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Chronic lung infection due to bacterial biofilms is one of the leading causes of mortality in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Among many species colonizing the lung airways, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus are two virulent pathogens involved in mechanically robust biofilms that are difficult to eradicate using airway clearance techniques like lung lavage. To remove such biological materials, glycoside hydrolase-based compounds are commonly employed for targeting and breaking down the biofilm matrix, and subsequently increasing cell susceptibility to antibiotics. Materials and methods In this study, we evaluate the effects of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) and Cysteamine (CYST) in disrupting interfacial bacterial films, targeting different components of the extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). We characterize the mechanics and structural integrity of the interfacial bacterial films using pendant drop elastometry and scanning electron microscopy. Results and discussion Our results show that the film architectures are compromised by treatment with disrupting agents for 6 h, which reduces film elasticity significantly. These effects are profound in the wild type and mucoid P. aeruginosa, compared to S. aureus. We further assess the effects of competition and cooperation between S. aureus and P. aeruginosa on the mechanics of composite interfacial films. Films of S. aureus and wild-type P. aeruginosa cocultures lose mechanical strength while those of S. aureus and mucoid P. aeruginosa exhibit improved storage modulus. Treatment with NAC and CYST reduces the elastic property of both composite films, owing to the drugs' ability to disintegrate their EPS matrix. Overall, our results provide new insights into methods for assessing the efficacy of mucolytic agents against interfacial biofilms relevant to cystic fibrosis infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sena Noaman
- Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Huda Usman
- Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Tagbo H. R. Niepa
- Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- Center for Medicine and the Microbiome, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- The McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
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3
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Kochanowski JA, Carroll B, Asp ME, Kaputa EC, Patteson AE. Bacteria Colonies Modify Their Shear and Compressive Mechanical Properties in Response to Different Growth Substrates. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2024. [PMID: 38193703 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.3c00907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Bacteria build multicellular communities termed biofilms, which are often encased in a self-secreted extracellular matrix that gives the community mechanical strength and protection against harsh chemicals. How bacteria assemble distinct multicellular structures in response to different environmental conditions remains incompletely understood. Here, we investigated the connection between bacteria colony mechanics and the colony growth substrate by measuring the oscillatory shear and compressive rheology of bacteria colonies grown on agar substrates. We found that bacteria colonies modify their own mechanical properties in response to shear and uniaxial compression in a manner that depends on the concentration of agar in their growth substrate. These findings highlight that mechanical interactions between bacteria and their microenvironments are an important element in bacteria colony development, which can aid in developing strategies to disrupt or reduce biofilm growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakub A Kochanowski
- Physics Department and BioInspired Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13210, United States
| | - Bobby Carroll
- Physics Department and BioInspired Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13210, United States
| | - Merrill E Asp
- Physics Department and BioInspired Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13210, United States
| | - Emma C Kaputa
- Physics Department and BioInspired Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13210, United States
| | - Alison E Patteson
- Physics Department and BioInspired Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13210, United States
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4
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Xiong X, Othmer HG, Harcombe WR. Emergent antibiotic persistence in a spatially structured synthetic microbial mutualism. THE ISME JOURNAL 2024; 18:wrae075. [PMID: 38691424 PMCID: PMC11104777 DOI: 10.1093/ismejo/wrae075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Antibiotic persistence (heterotolerance) allows a subpopulation of bacteria to survive antibiotic-induced killing and contributes to the evolution of antibiotic resistance. Although bacteria typically live in microbial communities with complex ecological interactions, little is known about how microbial ecology affects antibiotic persistence. Here, we demonstrated within a synthetic two-species microbial mutualism of Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica that the combination of cross-feeding and community spatial structure can emergently cause high antibiotic persistence in bacteria by increasing the cell-to-cell heterogeneity. Tracking ampicillin-induced death for bacteria on agar surfaces, we found that E. coli forms up to 55 times more antibiotic persisters in the cross-feeding coculture than in monoculture. This high persistence could not be explained solely by the presence of S. enterica, the presence of cross-feeding, average nutrient starvation, or spontaneous resistant mutations. Time-series fluorescent microscopy revealed increased cell-to-cell variation in E. coli lag time in the mutualistic co-culture. Furthermore, we discovered that an E. coli cell can survive antibiotic killing if the nearby S. enterica cells on which it relies die first. In conclusion, we showed that the high antibiotic persistence phenotype can be an emergent phenomenon caused by a combination of cross-feeding and spatial structure. Our work highlights the importance of considering spatially structured interactions during antibiotic treatment and understanding microbial community resilience more broadly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianyi Xiong
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, BioTechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, United States
- Division of Community Health & Epidemiology, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, MN 55454, United States
| | - Hans G Othmer
- School of Mathematics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States
| | - William R Harcombe
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, BioTechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, United States
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5
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Mishra AK, Thakare RP, Santani BG, Yabaji SM, Dixit SK, Srivastava KK. Unlocking the enigma of phenotypic drug tolerance: Mechanisms and emerging therapeutic strategies. Biochimie 2023; 220:67-83. [PMID: 38168626 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2023.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
In the ongoing battle against antimicrobial resistance, phenotypic drug tolerance poses a formidable challenge. This adaptive ability of microorganisms to withstand drug pressure without genetic alterations further complicating global healthcare challenges. Microbial populations employ an array of persistence mechanisms, including dormancy, biofilm formation, adaptation to intracellular environments, and the adoption of L-forms, to develop drug tolerance. Moreover, molecular mechanisms like toxin-antitoxin modules, oxidative stress responses, energy metabolism, and (p)ppGpp signaling contribute to this phenomenon. Understanding these persistence mechanisms is crucial for predicting drug efficacy, developing strategies for chronic bacterial infections, and exploring innovative therapies for refractory infections. In this comprehensive review, we dissect the intricacies of drug tolerance and persister formation, explore their role in acquired drug resistance, and highlight emerging therapeutic approaches to combat phenotypic drug tolerance. Furthermore, we outline the future landscape of interventions for persistent bacterial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alok K Mishra
- Division of Microbiology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI), Jankipuram Extension, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, 226031, India; Department of Molecular Cell and Cancer Biology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA.
| | - Ritesh P Thakare
- Division of Microbiology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI), Jankipuram Extension, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, 226031, India; Department of Molecular Cell and Cancer Biology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Bela G Santani
- Department of Microbiology, Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University (SGBAU), Amravati, Maharashtra, India
| | - Shivraj M Yabaji
- Division of Microbiology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI), Jankipuram Extension, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, 226031, India; National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories (NEIDL), Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Shivendra K Dixit
- Division of Medicine ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Izatnagar Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, 243122, India.
| | - Kishore K Srivastava
- Division of Microbiology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI), Jankipuram Extension, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, 226031, India.
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6
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Zhang Y, Yin M, Xu B. Elastocapillary rolling transfer weaves soft materials to spatial structures. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadh9232. [PMID: 37611102 PMCID: PMC10446489 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adh9232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Spatial structures of soft materials have attracted great attention because of emerging applications in wearable electronics, biomedical devices, and soft robotics, but there are no facile technologies available to assemble the soft materials into spatial structures. Here, we report a mechanical transfer route enabled by the rotational motion of curved substrates relative to the soft materials on liquid surface. This transfer can weave soft materials into a broad variety of spatial structures with controllable global weaving chirality and orders and could also produce local ear-like folds with programmable numbers and distributions. We further prove that multiple pieces of soft materials in different forms including wire, ribbon, and large-area film can be woven onto curved substrates with various three-dimensional geometry shapes. Application demonstrations on the woven freestanding spatial structures with on-demand weaving patterns and orders have been conducted to show the temperature-driven multimodal actuating functionalities for programmable robotic postures.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Baoxing Xu
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
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7
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Oliveira IM, Gomes IB, Plácido A, Simões LC, Eaton P, Simões M. The impact of potassium peroxymonosulphate and chlorinated cyanurates on biofilms of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia: effects on biofilm control, regrowth, and mechanical properties. BIOFOULING 2023; 39:691-705. [PMID: 37811587 DOI: 10.1080/08927014.2023.2254704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
The activity of two chlorinated isocyanurates (NaDCC and TCCA) and peroxymonosulphate (OXONE) was evaluated against biofilms of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, an emerging pathogen isolated from drinking water (DW), and for the prevention of biofilm regrowth. After disinfection of pre-formed 48 h-old biofilms, the culturability was reduced up to 7 log, with OXONE, TCCA, and NaDCC showing more efficiency than free chlorine against biofilms formed on stainless steel. The regrowth of biofilms previously exposed to OXONE was reduced by 5 and 4 log CFU cm-2 in comparison to the unexposed biofilms and biofilms exposed to free chlorine, respectively. Rheometry analysis showed that biofilms presented properties of viscoelastic solid materials, regardless of the treatment. OXONE reduced the cohesiveness of the biofilm, given the significant decrease in the complex shear modulus (G*). AFM analysis revealed that biofilms had a fractured appearance and smaller bacterial aggregates dispersed throughout the surface after OXONE exposure than the control sample. In general, OXONE has been demonstrated to be a promising disinfectant to control DW biofilms, with a higher activity than chlorine. The results also show the impact of the biofilm mechanical properties on the efficacy of the disinfectants in biofilm control.
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Affiliation(s)
- I M Oliveira
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- ALiCE - Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - I B Gomes
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- ALiCE - Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - A Plácido
- REQUIMTE/LAQV - Associated Laboratory for Green Chemistry of the Network of Chemistry and Technology, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - L C Simões
- CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- LABBELS - Associate Laboratory in Biotechnology, Bioengineering and Microelectromechanical Systems, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - P Eaton
- REQUIMTE/LAQV - Associated Laboratory for Green Chemistry of the Network of Chemistry and Technology, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- The Bridge, School of Chemistry, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, UK
| | - M Simões
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- ALiCE - Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
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8
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Li P, Yin R, Cheng J, Lin J. Bacterial Biofilm Formation on Biomaterials and Approaches to Its Treatment and Prevention. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11680. [PMID: 37511440 PMCID: PMC10380251 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial biofilms can cause widespread infection. In addition to causing urinary tract infections and pulmonary infections in patients with cystic fibrosis, biofilms can help microorganisms adhere to the surfaces of various medical devices, causing biofilm-associated infections on the surfaces of biomaterials such as venous ducts, joint prostheses, mechanical heart valves, and catheters. Biofilms provide a protective barrier for bacteria and provide resistance to antimicrobial agents, which increases the morbidity and mortality of patients. This review summarizes biofilm formation processes and resistance mechanisms, as well as the main features of clinically persistent infections caused by biofilms. Considering the various infections caused by clinical medical devices, we introduce two main methods to prevent and treat biomaterial-related biofilm infection: antibacterial coatings and the surface modification of biomaterials. Antibacterial coatings depend on the covalent immobilization of antimicrobial agents on the coating surface and drug release to prevent and combat infection, while the surface modification of biomaterials affects the adhesion behavior of cells on the surfaces of implants and the subsequent biofilm formation process by altering the physical and chemical properties of the implant material surface. The advantages of each strategy in terms of their antibacterial effect, biocompatibility, limitations, and application prospects are analyzed, providing ideas and research directions for the development of novel biofilm infection strategies related to therapeutic materials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Jinshui Lin
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Chinese Jujube, College of Life Sciences, Yan’an University, Yan’an 716000, China; (P.L.); (R.Y.); (J.C.)
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9
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Asp ME, Thanh MTH, Dutta S, Comstock JA, Welch RD, Patteson AE. Mechanobiology as a tool for addressing the genotype-to-phenotype problem in microbiology. BIOPHYSICS REVIEWS 2023; 4:021304. [PMID: 38504926 PMCID: PMC10903382 DOI: 10.1063/5.0142121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
The central hypothesis of the genotype-phenotype relationship is that the phenotype of a developing organism (i.e., its set of observable attributes) depends on its genome and the environment. However, as we learn more about the genetics and biochemistry of living systems, our understanding does not fully extend to the complex multiscale nature of how cells move, interact, and organize; this gap in understanding is referred to as the genotype-to-phenotype problem. The physics of soft matter sets the background on which living organisms evolved, and the cell environment is a strong determinant of cell phenotype. This inevitably leads to challenges as the full function of many genes, and the diversity of cellular behaviors cannot be assessed without wide screens of environmental conditions. Cellular mechanobiology is an emerging field that provides methodologies to understand how cells integrate chemical and physical environmental stress and signals, and how they are transduced to control cell function. Biofilm forming bacteria represent an attractive model because they are fast growing, genetically malleable and can display sophisticated self-organizing developmental behaviors similar to those found in higher organisms. Here, we propose mechanobiology as a new area of study in prokaryotic systems and describe its potential for unveiling new links between an organism's genome and phenome.
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10
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Huang X, Nero T, Weerasekera R, Matej KH, Hinbest A, Jiang Z, Lee RF, Wu L, Chak C, Nijjer J, Gibaldi I, Yang H, Gamble N, Ng WL, Malaker SA, Sumigray K, Olson R, Yan J. Vibrio cholerae biofilms use modular adhesins with glycan-targeting and nonspecific surface binding domains for colonization. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2104. [PMID: 37055389 PMCID: PMC10102183 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37660-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial biofilms are formed on environmental surfaces and host tissues, and facilitate host colonization and antibiotic resistance by human pathogens. Bacteria often express multiple adhesive proteins (adhesins), but it is often unclear whether adhesins have specialized or redundant roles. Here, we show how the model biofilm-forming organism Vibrio cholerae uses two adhesins with overlapping but distinct functions to achieve robust adhesion to diverse surfaces. Both biofilm-specific adhesins Bap1 and RbmC function as a "double-sided tape": they share a β-propeller domain that binds to the biofilm matrix exopolysaccharide, but have distinct environment-facing domains. Bap1 adheres to lipids and abiotic surfaces, while RbmC mainly mediates binding to host surfaces. Furthermore, both adhesins contribute to adhesion in an enteroid monolayer colonization model. We expect that similar modular domains may be utilized by other pathogens, and this line of research can potentially lead to new biofilm-removal strategies and biofilm-inspired adhesives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Huang
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Thomas Nero
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Ranjuna Weerasekera
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Molecular Biophysics Program, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, USA
| | - Katherine H Matej
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Alex Hinbest
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Molecular Biophysics Program, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, USA
| | - Zhaowei Jiang
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Rebecca F Lee
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Longjun Wu
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Ocean Science and Hong Kong Branch of the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong SAR, Guangzhou, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Cecilia Chak
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Japinder Nijjer
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Isabella Gibaldi
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Molecular Biophysics Program, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, USA
| | - Hang Yang
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Molecular Biophysics Program, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, USA
| | - Nathan Gamble
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Molecular Biophysics Program, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, USA
| | - Wai-Leung Ng
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Stacy A Malaker
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Kaelyn Sumigray
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Yale Stem Cell Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Yale Cancer Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Rich Olson
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Molecular Biophysics Program, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, USA.
| | - Jing Yan
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
- Quantitative Biology Institute, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
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11
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Wang Y, Zhang X, Guan L, Jiang Z, Gao X, Hao S, Zhang X. A novel method to harvest microalgae biofilms by interfacial interaction. ALGAL RES 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2023.103000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
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12
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Moreau A, Mukherjee S, Yan J. Mechanical Characterization and Single‐Cell Imaging of Bacterial Biofilms. Isr J Chem 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/ijch.202200075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Alexis Moreau
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Quantitative Biology Institute Yale University 260 Whitney Ave. New Haven CT 06511 USA
| | - Sampriti Mukherjee
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Cell Biology University of Chicago 920 E. 58th Street, Suite 1106 Chicago IL 60637
| | - Jing Yan
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Quantitative Biology Institute Yale University 260 Whitney Ave. New Haven CT 06511 USA
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13
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Tai JSB, Ferrell MJ, Yan J, Waters CM. New Insights into Vibrio cholerae Biofilms from Molecular Biophysics to Microbial Ecology. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2023; 1404:17-39. [PMID: 36792869 PMCID: PMC10726288 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-22997-8_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
With the discovery that 48% of cholera infections in rural Bangladesh villages could be prevented by simple filtration of unpurified waters and the detection of Vibrio cholerae aggregates in stools from cholera patients it was realized V. cholerae biofilms had a central function in cholera pathogenesis. We are currently in the seventh cholera pandemic, caused by O1 serotypes of the El Tor biotypes strains, which initiated in 1961. It is estimated that V. cholerae annually causes millions of infections and over 100,000 deaths. Given the continued emergence of cholera in areas that lack access to clean water, such as Haiti after the 2010 earthquake or the ongoing Yemen civil war, increasing our understanding of cholera disease remains a worldwide public health priority. The surveillance and treatment of cholera is also affected as the world is impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, raising significant concerns in Africa. In addition to the importance of biofilm formation in its life cycle, V. cholerae has become a key model system for understanding bacterial signal transduction networks that regulate biofilm formation and discovering fundamental principles about bacterial surface attachment and biofilm maturation. This chapter will highlight recent insights into V. cholerae biofilms including their structure, ecological role in environmental survival and infection, regulatory systems that control them, and biomechanical insights into the nature of V. cholerae biofilms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung-Shen B Tai
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Micah J Ferrell
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Jing Yan
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Christopher M Waters
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
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14
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Charlton SGV, Kurz DL, Geisel S, Jimenez-Martinez J, Secchi E. The role of biofilm matrix composition in controlling colony expansion and morphology. Interface Focus 2022; 12:20220035. [PMID: 36330326 PMCID: PMC9560791 DOI: 10.1098/rsfs.2022.0035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Biofilms are biological viscoelastic gels composed of bacterial cells embedded in a self-secreted polymeric extracellular matrix (ECM). In environmental settings, such as in the rhizosphere and phyllosphere, biofilm colonization occurs at the solid-air interface. The biofilms' ability to colonize and expand over these surfaces depends on the formation of osmotic gradients and ECM viscoelastic properties. In this work, we study the influence of biofilm ECM components on its viscoelasticity and expansion, using the model organism Bacillus subtilis and deletion mutants of its three major ECM components, TasA, EPS and BslA. Using a multi-scale approach, we quantified macro-scale viscoelasticity and expansion dynamics. Furthermore, we used a microsphere assay to visualize the micro-scale expansion patterns. We find that the viscoelastic phase angle Φ is likely the best viscoelastic parameter correlating to biofilm expansion dynamics. Moreover, we quantify the sensitivity of the biofilm to changes in substrate water potential as a function of ECM composition. Finally, we find that the deletion of ECM components significantly increases the coherence of micro-scale colony expansion patterns. These results demonstrate the influence of ECM viscoelasticity and substrate water potential on the expansion of biofilm colonies on wet surfaces at the air-solid interface, commonly found in natural environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel G. V. Charlton
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, Institute of Environmental Engineering, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Dorothee L. Kurz
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, Institute of Environmental Engineering, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Department Water Resources and Drinking Water, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Eawag, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Steffen Geisel
- Department of Materials, Soft Materials, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Joaquin Jimenez-Martinez
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, Institute of Environmental Engineering, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Department Water Resources and Drinking Water, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Eawag, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Eleonora Secchi
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, Institute of Environmental Engineering, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
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15
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Geisel S, Secchi E, Vermant J. Experimental challenges in determining the rheological properties of bacterial biofilms. Interface Focus 2022; 12:20220032. [PMID: 36330324 PMCID: PMC9560794 DOI: 10.1098/rsfs.2022.0032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial biofilms are communities living in a matrix consisting of self-produced, hydrated extracellular polymeric substances. Most microorganisms adopt the biofilm lifestyle since it protects by conferring resistance to antibiotics and physico-chemical stress factors. Consequently, mechanical removal is often necessary but rendered difficult by the biofilm's complex, viscoelastic response, and adhesive properties. Overall, the mechanical behaviour of biofilms also plays a role in the spreading, dispersal and subsequent colonization of new surfaces. Therefore, the characterization of the mechanical properties of biofilms plays a crucial role in controlling and combating biofilms in industrial and medical environments. We performed in situ shear rheological measurements of Bacillus subtilis biofilms grown between the plates of a rotational rheometer under well-controlled conditions relevant to many biofilm habitats. We investigated how the mechanical history preceding rheological measurements influenced biofilm mechanics and compared these results to the techniques commonly used in the literature. We also compare our results to measurements using interfacial rheology on bacterial pellicles formed at the air-water interface. This work aims to help understand how different growth and measurement conditions contribute to the large variability of mechanical properties reported in the literature and provide a new tool for the rigorous characterization of matrix components and biofilms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steffen Geisel
- Laboratory for Soft Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Eleonora Secchi
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jan Vermant
- Laboratory for Soft Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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16
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Quorum-sensing control of matrix protein production drives fractal wrinkling and interfacial localization of Vibrio cholerae pellicles. Nat Commun 2022; 13:6063. [PMID: 36229546 PMCID: PMC9561665 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33816-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial cells at fluid interfaces can self-assemble into collective communities with stunning macroscopic morphologies. Within these soft, living materials, called pellicles, constituent cells gain group-level survival advantages including increased antibiotic resistance. However, the regulatory and structural components that drive pellicle self-patterning are not well defined. Here, using Vibrio cholerae as our model system, we report that two sets of matrix proteins and a key quorum-sensing regulator jointly orchestrate the sequential mechanical instabilities underlying pellicle morphogenesis, culminating in fractal patterning. A pair of matrix proteins, RbmC and Bap1, maintain pellicle localization at the interface and prevent self-peeling. A single matrix protein, RbmA, drives a morphogenesis program marked by a cascade of ever finer wrinkles with fractal scaling in wavelength. Artificial expression of rbmA restores fractal wrinkling to a ΔrbmA mutant and enables precise tuning of fractal dimensions. The quorum-sensing regulatory small RNAs Qrr1-4 first activate matrix synthesis to launch pellicle primary wrinkling and ridge instabilities. Subsequently, via a distinct mechanism, Qrr1-4 suppress fractal wrinkling to promote fine modulation of pellicle morphology. Our results connect cell-cell signaling and architectural components to morphogenic patterning and suggest that manipulation of quorum-sensing regulators or synthetic control of rbmA expression could underpin strategies to engineer soft biomaterial morphologies on demand.
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17
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Henzel T, Nijjer J, Chockalingam S, Wahdat H, Crosby AJ, Yan J, Cohen T. Interfacial cavitation. PNAS NEXUS 2022; 1:pgac217. [PMID: 36714841 PMCID: PMC9802248 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgac217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Cavitation has long been recognized as a crucial predictor, or precursor, to the ultimate failure of various materials, ranging from ductile metals to soft and biological materials. Traditionally, cavitation in solids is defined as an unstable expansion of a void or a defect within a material. The critical applied load needed to trigger this instability -- the critical pressure -- is a lengthscale independent material property and has been predicted by numerous theoretical studies for a breadth of constitutive models. While these studies usually assume that cavitation initiates from defects in the bulk of an otherwise homogeneous medium, an alternative and potentially more ubiquitous scenario can occur if the defects are found at interfaces between two distinct media within the body. Such interfaces are becoming increasingly common in modern materials with the use of multimaterial composites and layer-by-layer additive manufacturing methods. However, a criterion to determine the threshold for interfacial failure, in analogy to the bulk cavitation limit, has yet to be reported. In this work, we fill this gap. Our theoretical model captures a lengthscale independent limit for interfacial cavitation, and is shown to agree with our observations at two distinct lengthscales, via two different experimental systems. To further understand the competition between the two cavitation modes (bulk versus interface), we expand our investigation beyond the elastic response to understand the ensuing unstable propagation of delamination at the interface. A phase diagram summarizes these results, showing regimes in which interfacial failure becomes the dominant mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Hares Wahdat
- Polymer Science and Engineering Department, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Alfred J Crosby
- Polymer Science and Engineering Department, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Jing Yan
- To whom correspondence should be addressed:
| | - Tal Cohen
- To whom correspondence should be addressed:
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18
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Kampouraki ZC, Petala M, Boumpakis A, Skordaris G, Michailidis N, Deliyanni E, Kostoglou M, Karapantsios TD. Wetting and Imbibition Characteristics of Pseudomonas fluorescens Biofilms Grown on Stainless Steel. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2022; 38:9810-9821. [PMID: 35786927 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c00828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
This study aims to provide insights into biofilm resistance associated with their structural properties acquired during formation and development. On this account, the wetting and imbibition behavior of dehydrated Pseudomonas fluorescens biofilms grown on stainless steel electropolished substrates is thoroughly examined at different biofilm ages. A polar liquid (water) and a non-polar liquid (diiodomethane) are employed as wetting agents in the form of sessile droplets. A mathematical model is applied to appraise the wetting and imbibition performance of biofilms incorporating the evaporation of sessile droplets. The present results show that the examined biofilms are hydrophilic. The progressive growth of biofilms leads to a gradual increase of substrate surface coverage─up to full coverage─accompanied by a gradual decrease of biofilm surface roughness. It is noteworthy that just after 24 h of biofilm growth, the surface roughness increases about 6.7 times the roughness of the clean stainless steel surface. It is further found that the imbibition of liquid in the biofilm matrix is restricted only to the biofilm region under the sessile droplet. The lack of further capillary imbibition into the biofilm structure, beyond the droplet deposition region, implies that the biofilm matrix is not in the form of an extended network of interconnected micro/nanopores. All in all, the present results indicate a resilient biofilm structure to biocide penetration despite its hydrophilic nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoi Christina Kampouraki
- Division of Chemical Technology, School of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University Box 116, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Maria Petala
- Division of Chemical Technology, School of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University Box 116, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Apostolos Boumpakis
- Division of Chemical Technology, School of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University Box 116, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Georgios Skordaris
- Division of Chemical Technology, School of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University Box 116, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Nikolaos Michailidis
- Division of Chemical Technology, School of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University Box 116, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Eleni Deliyanni
- Division of Chemical Technology, School of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University Box 116, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Margaritis Kostoglou
- Division of Chemical Technology, School of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University Box 116, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Thodoris D Karapantsios
- Division of Chemical Technology, School of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University Box 116, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
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19
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Abbot V, Paliwal D, Sharma A, Sharma P. A review on the physicochemical and biological applications of biosurfactants in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. Heliyon 2022; 8:e10149. [PMID: 35991993 PMCID: PMC9389252 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e10149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Biosurfactants are the chemical compounds that are obtained from various micro-organisms and possess the ability to decrease the interfacial tension between two similar or different phases. The importance of biosurfactants in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, agriculture, food and oil industries has made them an interesting choice in various physico-chemical and biological applications. With the aim of representing different properties of biosurfactants, this review article is focused on emphasizing their applications in various industries summarizing their importance in each field. Along with this, the production of recently developed chemically and biologically important biosurfactants has been outlined. The advantages of biosurfactants over the chemical surfactants have also been discussed with emphasis on the latest findings and research performed worldwide. Moreover, the chemical and physical properties of different biosurfactants have been presented and different characterization techniques have been discussed. Overall, the review article covers the latest developments in biosurfactants along with their physico-chemical properties and applications in different fields, especially in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vikrant Abbot
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Jaypee University of Information Technology, Waknaghat, Solan (Himachal Pradesh) 173234, India
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, PCTE Group of Institutes, Campus-2, Near Baddowal Cantt. Ferozpur Road, Ludhiana (Punjab) 142021, India
| | - Diwakar Paliwal
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Jaypee University of Information Technology, Waknaghat, Solan (Himachal Pradesh) 173234, India
| | - Anuradha Sharma
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, PCTE Group of Institutes, Campus-2, Near Baddowal Cantt. Ferozpur Road, Ludhiana (Punjab) 142021, India
| | - Poonam Sharma
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Jaypee University of Information Technology, Waknaghat, Solan (Himachal Pradesh) 173234, India
- Corresponding author.
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20
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Trubenová B, Roizman D, Moter A, Rolff J, Regoes RR. Population genetics, biofilm recalcitrance, and antibiotic resistance evolution. Trends Microbiol 2022; 30:841-852. [PMID: 35337697 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2022.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Biofilms are communities of bacteria forming high-density sessile colonies. Such a lifestyle comes associated with costs and benefits: while the growth rate of biofilms is often lower than that of their free-living counterparts, this cost is readily repaid once the colony is subjected to antibiotics. Biofilms can grow in antibiotic concentrations a thousand times higher than planktonic bacteria. While numerous mechanisms have been proposed to explain biofilm recalcitrance towards antibiotics, little is yet known about their effect on the evolution of resistance. We synthesize the current understanding of biofilm recalcitrance from a pharmacodynamic and a population genetics perspective. Using the pharmacodynamic framework, we discuss the effects of various mechanisms and show that biofilms can either promote or impede resistance evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dan Roizman
- Institute of Biology, Evolutionary Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany
| | - Annette Moter
- Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin Biofilmcenter, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jens Rolff
- Institute of Biology, Evolutionary Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany
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21
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Mohanta YK, Chakrabartty I, Mishra AK, Chopra H, Mahanta S, Avula SK, Patowary K, Ahmed R, Mishra B, Mohanta TK, Saravanan M, Sharma N. Nanotechnology in combating biofilm: A smart and promising therapeutic strategy. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1028086. [PMID: 36938129 PMCID: PMC10020670 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1028086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the birth of civilization, people have recognized that infectious microbes cause serious and often fatal diseases in humans. One of the most dangerous characteristics of microorganisms is their propensity to form biofilms. It is linked to the development of long-lasting infections and more severe illness. An obstacle to eliminating such intricate structures is their resistance to the drugs now utilized in clinical practice (biofilms). Finding new compounds with anti-biofilm effect is, thus, essential. Infections caused by bacterial biofilms are something that nanotechnology has lately shown promise in treating. More and more studies are being conducted to determine whether nanoparticles (NPs) are useful in the fight against bacterial infections. While there have been a small number of clinical trials, there have been several in vitro outcomes examining the effects of antimicrobial NPs. Nanotechnology provides secure delivery platforms for targeted treatments to combat the wide range of microbial infections caused by biofilms. The increase in pharmaceuticals' bioactive potential is one of the many ways in which nanotechnology has been applied to drug delivery. The current research details the utilization of several nanoparticles in the targeted medication delivery strategy for managing microbial biofilms, including metal and metal oxide nanoparticles, liposomes, micro-, and nanoemulsions, solid lipid nanoparticles, and polymeric nanoparticles. Our understanding of how these nanosystems aid in the fight against biofilms has been expanded through their use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yugal Kishore Mohanta
- Department of Applied Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM), Techno City, Meghalaya, India
- *Correspondence: Yugal Kishore Mohanta,
| | - Ishani Chakrabartty
- Department of Applied Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM), Techno City, Meghalaya, India
- Indegene Pvt. Ltd., Manyata Tech Park, Bangalore, India
| | | | - Hitesh Chopra
- Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Rajpura, Punjab, India
| | - Saurov Mahanta
- National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT), Guwahati Centre, Guwahati, Assam, India
| | - Satya Kumar Avula
- Natural and Medical Sciences Research Centre, University of Nizwa, Nizwa, Oman
| | - Kaustuvmani Patowary
- Department of Applied Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM), Techno City, Meghalaya, India
| | - Ramzan Ahmed
- Department of Applied Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM), Techno City, Meghalaya, India
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Bibhudutta Mishra
- Department of Gastroenterology and HNU, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Tapan Kumar Mohanta
- Natural and Medical Sciences Research Centre, University of Nizwa, Nizwa, Oman
- Tapan Kumar Mohanta,
| | - Muthupandian Saravanan
- AMR and Nanotherapeutics Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Chennai, India
| | - Nanaocha Sharma
- Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development, Imphal, Manipur, India
- Nanaocha Sharma,
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22
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Kretschmer M, Hayta EN, Ertelt MJ, Würbser MA, Boekhoven J, Lieleg O. A rotating bioreactor for the production of biofilms at the solid-air interface. Biotechnol Bioeng 2021; 119:895-906. [PMID: 34958130 DOI: 10.1002/bit.28023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Conventional bioreactors are typically developed for the production of planktonic bacteria or submerged biofilms. In contrast, reactors for the continuous production of biofilms at the solid-air interface are scarce, and they require specific conditions since the bacteria need to attach firmly to the surface and require a permanent supply of moisture and nutrients from below. Recently, research from the field of civil engineering has pinpoint an increased need for the production of terrestrial biofilms: several variants of Bacillus subtilis biofilms have been shown to be useful additives to mortar that increase the water repellency and thus the lifetime of the cementitious material. The bioreactor introduced here allows for the continuous production of such bacterial biofilms at the solid/air interface, and they have virtually identical properties as biofilms cultivated via classical microbiological techniques. This is made possible by equipping a rotating cylinder with a porous membrane that acts as a solid growth substrate the bacterial biomass can form on. In this configuration, nutrient supply is enabled via diffusive transport of a suitable growth medium from the core volume of the cylindrical reactor to the membrane surface. In addition to cultivating bacterial biofilms, the versatile and adaptable setup introduced here also enables the growth of other microbial organisms including the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the fungus Penicillium chrysogenum. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Kretschmer
- School of Engineering and Design, Department of Materials Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Boltzmannstraße 15, 85748, Garching, Germany.,Center for Functional Protein Assemblies (CPA), Technical University of Munich, Ernst-Otto-Fischer Straße 8, 85748, Garching, Germany
| | - Elif N Hayta
- School of Engineering and Design, Department of Materials Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Boltzmannstraße 15, 85748, Garching, Germany.,Center for Functional Protein Assemblies (CPA), Technical University of Munich, Ernst-Otto-Fischer Straße 8, 85748, Garching, Germany
| | - Marvin J Ertelt
- School of Engineering and Design, Department of Materials Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Boltzmannstraße 15, 85748, Garching, Germany.,Center for Functional Protein Assemblies (CPA), Technical University of Munich, Ernst-Otto-Fischer Straße 8, 85748, Garching, Germany
| | - Michaela A Würbser
- Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Lichtenbergstrasse 4, 85748, Garching, Germany
| | - Job Boekhoven
- Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Lichtenbergstrasse 4, 85748, Garching, Germany.,Institute for Advanced Study, Technical University of Munich, Lichtenbergstrasse 2a, 85748, Garching, Germany
| | - Oliver Lieleg
- School of Engineering and Design, Department of Materials Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Boltzmannstraße 15, 85748, Garching, Germany.,Center for Functional Protein Assemblies (CPA), Technical University of Munich, Ernst-Otto-Fischer Straße 8, 85748, Garching, Germany
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23
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Nguyen TK, Peyrusson F, Siala W, Pham NH, Nguyen HA, Tulkens PM, Van Bambeke F. Activity of Moxifloxacin Against Biofilms Formed by Clinical Isolates of Staphylococcus aureus Differing by Their Resistant or Persister Character to Fluoroquinolones. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:785573. [PMID: 34975808 PMCID: PMC8715871 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.785573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus biofilms are poorly responsive to antibiotics. Underlying reasons include a matrix effect preventing drug access to embedded bacteria, or the presence of dormant bacteria with reduced growth rate. Using 18 clinical isolates previously characterized for their moxifloxacin-resistant and moxifloxacin-persister character in stationary-phase culture, we studied their biofilm production and matrix composition and the anti-biofilm activity of moxifloxacin. Biofilms were grown in microtiter plates and their abundance quantified by crystal violet staining and colony counting; their content in polysaccharides, extracellular DNA and proteins was measured. Moxifloxacin activity was assessed after 24 h of incubation with a broad range of concentrations to establish full concentration-response curves. All clinical isolates produced more biofilm biomass than the reference strain ATCC 25923, the difference being more important for those with high relative persister fractions to moxifloxacin, most of which being also resistant. High biofilm producers expressed icaA to higher levels, enriching the matrix in polysaccharides. Moxifloxacin was less potent against biofilms from clinical isolates than from ATCC 25923, especially against moxifloxacin-resistant isolates with high persister fractions, which was ascribed to a lower concentration of moxifloxacin in these biofilms. Time-kill curves in biofilms revealed the presence of a moxifloxacin-tolerant subpopulation, with low multiplication capacity, whatever the persister character of the isolate. Thus, moxifloxacin activity depends on its local concentration in biofilm, which is reduced in most isolates with high-relative persister fractions due to matrix effects, and insufficient to kill resistant isolates due to their high MIC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiep K. Nguyen
- Pharmacologie cellulaire et moléculaire, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Pharmaceutical Industry, Hanoi University of Pharmacy, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Frédéric Peyrusson
- Pharmacologie cellulaire et moléculaire, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Wafi Siala
- Pharmacologie cellulaire et moléculaire, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Nhung H. Pham
- Department of Microbiology, Bach Mai Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Hoang A. Nguyen
- The National Center for Drug Information and Adverse Drug Reactions Monitoring, Hanoi University of Pharmacy, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Paul M. Tulkens
- Pharmacologie cellulaire et moléculaire, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Françoise Van Bambeke
- Pharmacologie cellulaire et moléculaire, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
- *Correspondence: Françoise Van Bambeke,
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24
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Ma J, Kim JM, Hoque MJ, Thompson KJ, Nam S, Cahill DG, Miljkovic N. Role of Thin Film Adhesion on Capillary Peeling. NANO LETTERS 2021; 21:9983-9989. [PMID: 34788056 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.1c03494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The capillary force can peel off a substrate-attached film if the adhesion energy (Gw) is low. Capillary peeling has been used as a convenient, rapid, and nondestructive method for fabricating free-standing thin films. However, the critical value of Gw, which leads to the transition between peeling and sticking, remains largely unknown. As a result, capillary peeling remains empirical and applicable to a limited set of materials. Here, we investigate the critical value of Gw and experimentally show the critical adhesion (Gw,c) to scale with the water-film interfacial energy (≈0.7γfw), which corresponds well with our theoretical prediction of Gw,c = γfw. Based on the critical adhesion, we propose quantitative thermodynamic guidelines for designing thin film interfaces that enable successful capillary peeling. The outcomes of this work present a powerful technique for thin film transfer and advanced nanofabrication in flexible photovoltaics, battery materials, biosensing, translational medicine, and stretchable bioelectronics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingcheng Ma
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Jin Myung Kim
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Muhammad Jahidul Hoque
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Kamila J Thompson
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - SungWoo Nam
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - David G Cahill
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Nenad Miljkovic
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- International Institute for Carbon Neutral Energy Research (WPI-I2CNER), Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
- Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
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25
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Ziege R, Tsirigoni AM, Large B, Serra DO, Blank KG, Hengge R, Fratzl P, Bidan CM. Adaptation of Escherichia coli Biofilm Growth, Morphology, and Mechanical Properties to Substrate Water Content. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2021; 7:5315-5325. [PMID: 34672512 PMCID: PMC8579398 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.1c00927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Biofilms are complex
living materials that form as bacteria become
embedded in a matrix of self-produced protein and polysaccharide fibers.
In addition to their traditional association with chronic infections
or clogging of pipelines, biofilms currently gain interest as a potential
source of functional material. On nutritive hydrogels, micron-sized Escherichia coli cells can build centimeter-large biofilms.
During this process, bacterial proliferation, matrix production, and
water uptake introduce mechanical stresses in the biofilm that are
released through the formation of macroscopic delaminated buckles
in the third dimension. To clarify how substrate water content could
be used to tune biofilm material properties, we quantified E. coli biofilm growth, delamination dynamics, and rigidity
as a function of water content of the nutritive substrates. Time-lapse
microscopy and computational image analysis revealed that softer substrates
with high water content promote biofilm spreading kinetics, while
stiffer substrates with low water content promote biofilm delamination.
The delaminated buckles observed on biofilm cross sections appeared
more bent on substrates with high water content, while they tended
to be more vertical on substrates with low water content. Both wet
and dry biomass, accumulated over 4 days of culture, were larger in
biofilms cultured on substrates with high water content, despite extra
porosity within the matrix layer. Finally, microindentation analysis
revealed that substrates with low water content supported the formation
of stiffer biofilms. This study shows that E. coli biofilms respond to substrate water content, which might be used
for tuning their material properties in view of further applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Ziege
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | | | - Bastien Large
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Diego O Serra
- Institut für Biologie/Mikrobiologie, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10115 Berlin, Germany.,Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, 2000 Rosario, Argentina
| | - Kerstin G Blank
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Regine Hengge
- Institut für Biologie/Mikrobiologie, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Peter Fratzl
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Cécile M Bidan
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
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26
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Abstract
Biofilms are aggregates of bacterial cells surrounded by an extracellular matrix. Much progress has been made in studying biofilm growth on solid substrates; however, little is known about the biophysical mechanisms underlying biofilm development in three-dimensional confined environments in which the biofilm-dwelling cells must push against and even damage the surrounding environment to proliferate. Here, combining single-cell imaging, mutagenesis, and rheological measurement, we reveal the key morphogenesis steps of Vibrio cholerae biofilms embedded in hydrogels as they grow by four orders of magnitude from their initial size. We show that the morphodynamics and cell ordering in embedded biofilms are fundamentally different from those of biofilms on flat surfaces. Treating embedded biofilms as inclusions growing in an elastic medium, we quantitatively show that the stiffness contrast between the biofilm and its environment determines biofilm morphology and internal architecture, selecting between spherical biofilms with no cell ordering and oblate ellipsoidal biofilms with high cell ordering. When embedded in stiff gels, cells self-organize into a bipolar structure that resembles the molecular ordering in nematic liquid crystal droplets. In vitro biomechanical analysis shows that cell ordering arises from stress transmission across the biofilm-environment interface, mediated by specific matrix components. Our imaging technique and theoretical approach are generalizable to other biofilm-forming species and potentially to biofilms embedded in mucus or host tissues as during infection. Our results open an avenue to understand how confined cell communities grow by means of a compromise between their inherent developmental program and the mechanical constraints imposed by the environment.
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27
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Jiang Z, Nero T, Mukherjee S, Olson R, Yan J. Searching for the Secret of Stickiness: How Biofilms Adhere to Surfaces. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:686793. [PMID: 34305846 PMCID: PMC8295476 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.686793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial biofilms are communities of cells enclosed in an extracellular polymeric matrix in which cells adhere to each other and to foreign surfaces. The development of a biofilm is a dynamic process that involves multiple steps, including cell-surface attachment, matrix production, and population expansion. Increasing evidence indicates that biofilm adhesion is one of the main factors contributing to biofilm-associated infections in clinics and biofouling in industrial settings. This review focuses on describing biofilm adhesion strategies among different bacteria, including Vibrio cholerae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. Techniques used to characterize biofilm adhesion are also reviewed. An understanding of biofilm adhesion strategies can guide the development of novel approaches to inhibit or manipulate biofilm adhesion and growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaowei Jiang
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Thomas Nero
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Sampriti Mukherjee
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Rich Olson
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Molecular Biophysics Program, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, United States
| | - Jing Yan
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States.,Quantitative Biology Institute, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
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28
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Ko TJ, Cho S, Kim SJ, Lee YA, Kim DH, Jo W, Kim HY, Yang S, Oh KH, Moon MW. Direct recovery of spilled oil using hierarchically porous oil scoop with capillary-induced anti-oil-fouling. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 410:124549. [PMID: 33250313 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Revised: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The pitcher plant has evolved its hierarchically grooved peristome to enhance a water-based slippery system for capturing insects with oil-covered footpads. Based on this, we proposed a hierarchically porous oil scoop (HPOS) with capillary-induced oil peel-off ability for repeatable spilled oil recovery. As the HPOS scoops oil-water mixture, water passes through the hole while the oil is confined within a curved geometry. The filter in HPOS has three levels of porous structures; (1) 3D-printed mesh structure with sub-millimeter scale hole to filter out oil from an oil-water mixture, (2) internal micropore in fibers enhancing capillarity and water transport, (3) O2 plasma-induced high-aspect-ratio nanopillar structures imposing anti-oil-fouling property with capillary-induced oil peeling. As the oil-contaminated HPOS makes contact with water, water meniscus rises and peels off the oil immediately at the air-water interface. The oil-peel-off ability of the HPOS would prevent pores from clogging by oils for reuse. The study demonstrated that the HPOS recovers highly viscous oil (up to 5000 mm2·s-1) with a high recovery rate (>95%), leaving the filtered water with low oil content (<10 ppm), which satisfies the discharge criterion of 15 ppm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tae-Jun Ko
- Materials and Life Science Research Division, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Seohyun Cho
- Materials and Life Science Research Division, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Seong Jin Kim
- Materials and Life Science Research Division, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Young A Lee
- Materials and Life Science Research Division, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Do Hyun Kim
- Materials and Life Science Research Division, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Wonjin Jo
- Materials and Life Science Research Division, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Ho-Young Kim
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and IAMD, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Shu Yang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Kyu Hwan Oh
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Myoung-Woon Moon
- Materials and Life Science Research Division, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea.
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29
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Abstract
Bacteria use intercellular signaling, or quorum sensing (QS), to share information and respond collectively to aspects of their surroundings. The autoinducers that carry this information are exposed to the external environment; consequently, they are affected by factors such as removal through fluid flow, a ubiquitous feature of bacterial habitats ranging from the gut and lungs to lakes and oceans. To understand how QS genetic architectures in cells promote appropriate population-level phenotypes throughout the bacterial life cycle requires knowledge of how these architectures determine the QS response in realistic spatiotemporally varying flow conditions. Here we develop and apply a general theory that identifies and quantifies the conditions required for QS activation in fluid flow by systematically linking cell- and population-level genetic and physical processes. We predict that when a subset of the population meets these conditions, cell-level positive feedback promotes a robust collective response by overcoming flow-induced autoinducer concentration gradients. By accounting for a dynamic flow in our theory, we predict that positive feedback in cells acts as a low-pass filter at the population level in oscillatory flow, allowing a population to respond only to changes in flow that occur over slow enough timescales. Our theory is readily extendable and provides a framework for assessing the functional roles of diverse QS network architectures in realistic flow conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohit P Dalwadi
- Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX2 6GG, United Kingdom;
| | - Philip Pearce
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
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30
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Gloag ES, Wozniak DJ, Stoodley P, Hall-Stoodley L. Mycobacterium abscessus biofilms have viscoelastic properties which may contribute to their recalcitrance in chronic pulmonary infections. Sci Rep 2021; 11:5020. [PMID: 33658597 PMCID: PMC7930093 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-84525-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycobacterium abscessus is emerging as a cause of recalcitrant chronic pulmonary infections, particularly in people with cystic fibrosis (CF). Biofilm formation has been implicated in the pathology of this organism, however the role of biofilm formation in infection is unclear. Two colony-variants of M. abscessus are routinely isolated from CF samples, smooth (MaSm) and rough (MaRg). These two variants display distinct colony morphologies due to the presence (MaSm) or absence (MaRg) of cell wall glycopeptidolipids (GPLs). We hypothesized that MaSm and MaRg variant biofilms might have different mechanical properties. To test this hypothesis, we performed uniaxial mechanical indentation, and shear rheometry on MaSm and MaRg colony-biofilms. We identified that MaRg biofilms were significantly stiffer than MaSm under a normal force, while MaSm biofilms were more pliant compared to MaRg, under both normal and shear forces. Furthermore, using theoretical indices of mucociliary and cough clearance, we identified that M. abscessus biofilms may be more resistant to mechanical forms of clearance from the lung, compared to another common pulmonary pathogen, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Thus, the mechanical properties of M. abscessus biofilms may contribute to the persistent nature of pulmonary infections caused by this organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin S Gloag
- Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity, The Ohio State University, 711 Biomedical Research Tower, 460 W 12th Avenue, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Daniel J Wozniak
- Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity, The Ohio State University, 711 Biomedical Research Tower, 460 W 12th Avenue, Columbus, OH, USA.,Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Paul Stoodley
- Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity, The Ohio State University, 711 Biomedical Research Tower, 460 W 12th Avenue, Columbus, OH, USA.,Department of Orthopedics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.,National Biofilm Innovation Centre (NBIC) and National Centre for Advanced Tribology at Southampton (nCATS), University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Luanne Hall-Stoodley
- Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity, The Ohio State University, 711 Biomedical Research Tower, 460 W 12th Avenue, Columbus, OH, USA.
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31
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Song SW, Lee S, Choe JK, Kim NH, Kang J, Lee AC, Choi Y, Choi A, Jeong Y, Lee W, Kim JY, Kwon S, Kim J. Direct 2D-to-3D transformation of pen drawings. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:7/13/eabf3804. [PMID: 33762344 PMCID: PMC7990349 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abf3804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Pen drawing is a method that allows simple, inexpensive, and intuitive two-dimensional (2D) fabrication. To integrate such advantages of pen drawing in fabricating 3D objects, we developed a 3D fabrication technology that can directly transform pen-drawn 2D precursors into 3D geometries. 2D-to-3D transformation of pen drawings is facilitated by surface tension-driven capillary peeling and floating of dried ink film when the drawing is dipped into an aqueous monomer solution. Selective control of the floating and anchoring parts of a 2D precursor allowed the 2D drawing to transform into the designed 3D structure. The transformed 3D geometry can then be fixed by structural reinforcement using surface-initiated polymerization. By transforming simple pen-drawn 2D structures into complex 3D structures, our approach enables freestyle rapid prototyping via pen drawing, as well as mass production of 3D objects via roll-to-roll processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seo Woo Song
- Bio-MAX Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, South Korea
| | - Sumin Lee
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, South Korea
| | - Jun Kyu Choe
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan 44919, South Korea
| | - Na-Hyang Kim
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan 44919, South Korea
| | - Junwon Kang
- Interdisciplinary Program for Bioengineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, South Korea
| | - Amos Chungwon Lee
- Bio-MAX Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, South Korea
| | - Yeongjae Choi
- Nano Systems Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, South Korea
| | - Ahyoun Choi
- Interdisciplinary Program for Bioengineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, South Korea
| | - Yunjin Jeong
- Bio-MAX Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, South Korea
| | - Wooseok Lee
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, South Korea
| | - Ju-Young Kim
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan 44919, South Korea
| | - Sunghoon Kwon
- Bio-MAX Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, South Korea.
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, South Korea
- Interdisciplinary Program for Bioengineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, South Korea
- Nano Systems Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, South Korea
| | - Jiyun Kim
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan 44919, South Korea.
- Center for Multidimensional Programmable Matter, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan 44919, South Korea
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32
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Gloag ES, Fabbri S, Wozniak DJ, Stoodley P. Biofilm mechanics: Implications in infection and survival. Biofilm 2020; 2:100017. [PMID: 33447803 PMCID: PMC7798440 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioflm.2019.100017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2019] [Revised: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
It has long been recognized that biofilms are viscoelastic materials, however the importance of this attribute to the survival and persistence of these microbial communities is yet to be fully realized. Here we review work, which focuses on understanding biofilm mechanics and put this knowledge in the context of biofilm survival, particularly for biofilm-associated infections. We note that biofilm viscoelasticity may be an evolved property of these communities, and that the production of multiple extracellular polymeric slime components may be a way to ensure the development of biofilms with complex viscoelastic properties. We discuss viscoelasticity facilitating biofilm survival in the context of promoting the formation of larger and stronger biofilms when exposed to shear forces, promoting fluid-like behavior of the biofilm and subsequent biofilm expansion by viscous flow, and enabling resistance to both mechanical and chemical methods of clearance. We conclude that biofilm viscoelasticity contributes to the virulence of chronic biofilm infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin S. Gloag
- Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | | | - Daniel J. Wozniak
- Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Paul Stoodley
- Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
- Department of Orthopedics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
- National Biofilm Innovation Centre (NBIC) and National Centre for Advanced Tribology at Southampton (nCATS), University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
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33
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Cont A, Rossy T, Al-Mayyah Z, Persat A. Biofilms deform soft surfaces and disrupt epithelia. eLife 2020; 9:56533. [PMID: 33025904 PMCID: PMC7556879 DOI: 10.7554/elife.56533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 08/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
During chronic infections and in microbiota, bacteria predominantly colonize their hosts as multicellular structures called biofilms. A common assumption is that biofilms exclusively interact with their hosts biochemically. However, the contributions of mechanics, while being central to the process of biofilm formation, have been overlooked as a factor influencing host physiology. Specifically, how biofilms form on soft, tissue-like materials remains unknown. Here, we show that biofilms of the pathogens Vibrio cholerae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa can induce large deformations of soft synthetic hydrogels. Biofilms buildup internal mechanical stress as single cells grow within the elastic matrix. By combining mechanical measurements and mutations in matrix components, we found that biofilms deform by buckling, and that adhesion transmits these forces to their substrates. Finally, we demonstrate that V. cholerae biofilms can generate sufficient mechanical stress to deform and even disrupt soft epithelial cell monolayers, suggesting a mechanical mode of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Cont
- Institute of Bioengineering and Global Health Institute, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Tamara Rossy
- Institute of Bioengineering and Global Health Institute, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Zainebe Al-Mayyah
- Institute of Bioengineering and Global Health Institute, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Alexandre Persat
- Institute of Bioengineering and Global Health Institute, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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34
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Zhang K, Li X, Yu C, Wang Y. Promising Therapeutic Strategies Against Microbial Biofilm Challenges. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:359. [PMID: 32850471 PMCID: PMC7399198 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.00359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Biofilms are communities of microorganisms that are attached to a biological or abiotic surface and are surrounded by a self-produced extracellular matrix. Cells within a biofilm have intrinsic characteristics that are different from those of planktonic cells. Biofilm resistance to antimicrobial agents has drawn increasing attention. It is well-known that medical device- and tissue-associated biofilms may be the leading cause for the failure of antibiotic treatments and can cause many chronic infections. The eradication of biofilms is very challenging. Many researchers are working to address biofilm-related infections, and some novel strategies have been developed and identified as being effective and promising. Nevertheless, more preclinical studies and well-designed multicenter clinical trials are critically needed to evaluate the prospects of these strategies. Here, we review information about the mechanisms underlying the drug resistance of biofilms and discuss recent progress in alternative therapies and promising strategies against microbial biofilms. We also summarize the strengths and weaknesses of these strategies in detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaiyu Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xin Li
- Department of Infectious Diseases, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Chen Yu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yang Wang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
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35
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Qin B, Fei C, Bridges AA, Mashruwala AA, Stone HA, Wingreen NS, Bassler BL. Cell position fates and collective fountain flow in bacterial biofilms revealed by light-sheet microscopy. Science 2020; 369:71-77. [PMID: 32527924 DOI: 10.1126/science.abb8501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Bacterial biofilms represent a basic form of multicellular organization that confers survival advantages to constituent cells. The sequential stages of cell ordering during biofilm development have been studied in the pathogen and model biofilm-former Vibrio cholerae It is unknown how spatial trajectories of individual cells and the collective motions of many cells drive biofilm expansion. We developed dual-view light-sheet microscopy to investigate the dynamics of biofilm development from a founder cell to a mature three-dimensional community. Tracking of individual cells revealed two distinct fates: one set of biofilm cells expanded ballistically outward, while the other became trapped at the substrate. A collective fountain-like flow transported cells to the biofilm front, bypassing members trapped at the substrate and facilitating lateral biofilm expansion. This collective flow pattern was quantitatively captured by a continuum model of biofilm growth against substrate friction. Coordinated cell movement required the matrix protein RbmA, without which cells expanded erratically. Thus, tracking cell lineages and trajectories in space and time revealed how multicellular structures form from a single founder cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boyang Qin
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.,Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Chenyi Fei
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.,Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Andrew A Bridges
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.,The Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
| | - Ameya A Mashruwala
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.,The Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
| | - Howard A Stone
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Ned S Wingreen
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.,Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.,Princeton Center for Theoretical Science, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Bonnie L Bassler
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA. .,The Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
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36
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Huang DN, Wang J, Ren KF, Ji J. Functionalized biomaterials to combat biofilms. Biomater Sci 2020; 8:4052-4066. [PMID: 32500875 DOI: 10.1039/d0bm00526f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Pathogenic microbial biofilms that readily form on implantable medical devices or human tissues have posed a great threat to worldwide healthcare. Hopes are focused on preventive strategies towards biofilms, leaving a thought-provoking question: how to tackle the problem of established biofilms? In this review, we briefly summarize the functionalized biomaterials to combat biofilms and highlight current approaches to eradicate pre-existing biofilms. We believe that all of these strategies, alone or in combination, could represent a blueprint for fighting biofilm-associated infections in the postantibiotic era.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan-Ni Huang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecule Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China.
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37
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Ma J, Cahill DG, Miljkovic N. Condensation Induced Blistering as a Measurement Technique for the Adhesion Energy of Nanoscale Polymer Films. NANO LETTERS 2020; 20:3918-3924. [PMID: 32320258 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.0c01086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Polymeric coatings having micro-to-nanoscale thickness show immense promise for enhancing thermal transport, catalysis, energy conversion, and water collection. Characterizing the work of adhesion (G) between these coatings and their substrates is key to understanding transport physics as well as mechanical reliability. Here, we demonstrate that water vapor condensation blistering is capable of in situ measurement of work of adhesion at the interface of polymer thin films with micrometer spatial resolution. We use our method to characterize adhesion of interfaces with controlled chemistry such as fluorocarbon/fluorocarbon (CFn/CFm, n, m = 0-3), fluorocarbon/hydrocarbon (CFn/CHm), fluorocarbon/silica (CFn/SiO2), and hydrocarbon/silica (CHn/SiO2) interfaces showing excellent agreement with adhesion energy measured by the contact angle approach. We demonstrate the capability of our condensation blister test to achieve measurement spatial resolutions as low as 10 μm with uncertainties of ∼10%. The outcomes of this work establish a simple tool to study interfacial adhesion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingcheng Ma
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - David G Cahill
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Department of Material Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Nenad Miljkovic
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- International Institute for Carbon Neutral Energy Research (WPI-I2CNER), Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
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38
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Hong SH, Gorce JB, Punzmann H, Francois N, Shats M, Xia H. Surface waves control bacterial attachment and formation of biofilms in thin layers. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2020; 6:eaaz9386. [PMID: 32766446 PMCID: PMC7385439 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aaz9386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2019] [Accepted: 03/19/2020] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Formation of bacterial biofilms on solid surfaces within a fluid starts when bacteria attach to the substrate. Understanding environmental factors affecting the attachment and the early stages of the biofilm development will help develop methods of controlling the biofilm growth. Here, we show that biofilm formation is strongly affected by the flows in thin layers of bacterial suspensions controlled by surface waves. Deterministic wave patterns promote the growth of patterned biofilms, while wave-driven turbulent motion discourages patterned attachment of bacteria. Strong biofilms form under the wave antinodes, while inactive bacteria and passive particles settle under nodal points. By controlling the wavelength, its amplitude, and horizontal mobility of the wave patterns, one can shape the biofilm and either enhance the growth or discourage the formation of the biofilm. The results suggest that the deterministic wave-driven transport channels, rather than hydrodynamic forces acting on microorganisms, determine the preferred location for the bacterial attachment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung-Ha Hong
- Research School of Physics, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Jean-Baptiste Gorce
- Research School of Physics, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
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39
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Jana S, Charlton SGV, Eland LE, Burgess JG, Wipat A, Curtis TP, Chen J. Nonlinear rheological characteristics of single species bacterial biofilms. NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes 2020; 6:19. [PMID: 32286319 PMCID: PMC7156450 DOI: 10.1038/s41522-020-0126-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2019] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial biofilms in natural and artificial environments perform a wide array of beneficial or detrimental functions and exhibit resistance to physical as well as chemical perturbations. In dynamic environments, where periodic or aperiodic flows over surfaces are involved, biofilms can be subjected to large shear forces. The ability to withstand these forces, which is often attributed to the resilience of the extracellular matrix. This attribute of the extracellular matrix is referred to as viscoelasticity and is a result of self-assembly and cross-linking of multiple polymeric components that are secreted by the microbes. We aim to understand the viscoelastic characteristic of biofilms subjected to large shear forces by performing Large Amplitude Oscillatory Shear (LAOS) experiments on four species of bacterial biofilms: Bacillus subtilis, Comamonas denitrificans, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We find that nonlinear viscoelastic measures such as intracycle strain stiffening and intracycle shear thickening for each of the tested species, exhibit subtle or distinct differences in the plot of strain amplitude versus frequency (Pipkin diagram). The biofilms also exhibit variability in the onset of nonlinear behaviour and energy dissipation characteristics, which could be a result of heterogeneity of the extracellular matrix constituents of the different biofilms. The results provide insight into the nonlinear rheological behaviour of biofilms as they are subjected to large strains or strain rates; a situation that is commonly encountered in nature, but rarely investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saikat Jana
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK.
| | | | - Lucy E Eland
- Interdisciplinary Computing & Complex BioSystems Research Group, School of Computing, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - J Grant Burgess
- School of Natural & Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Anil Wipat
- Interdisciplinary Computing & Complex BioSystems Research Group, School of Computing, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Thomas P Curtis
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
| | - Jinju Chen
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK.
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40
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Nonuniform growth and surface friction determine bacterial biofilm morphology on soft substrates. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:7622-7632. [PMID: 32193350 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1919607117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
During development, organisms acquire three-dimensional (3D) shapes with important physiological consequences. While basic mechanisms underlying morphogenesis are known in eukaryotes, it is often difficult to manipulate them in vivo. To circumvent this issue, here we present a study of developing Vibrio cholerae biofilms grown on agar substrates in which the spatiotemporal morphological patterns were altered by varying the agar concentration. Expanding biofilms are initially flat but later undergo a mechanical instability and become wrinkled. To gain mechanistic insights into this dynamic pattern-formation process, we developed a model that considers diffusion of nutrients and their uptake by bacteria, bacterial growth/biofilm matrix production, mechanical deformation of both the biofilm and the substrate, and the friction between them. Our model shows quantitative agreement with experimental measurements of biofilm expansion dynamics, and it accurately predicts two distinct spatiotemporal patterns observed in the experiments-the wrinkles initially appear either in the peripheral region and propagate inward (soft substrate/low friction) or in the central region and propagate outward (stiff substrate/high friction). Our results, which establish that nonuniform growth and friction are fundamental determinants of stress anisotropy and hence biofilm morphology, are broadly applicable to bacterial biofilms with similar morphologies and also provide insight into how other bacterial biofilms form distinct wrinkle patterns. We discuss the implications of forming undulated biofilm morphologies, which may enhance the availability of nutrients and signaling molecules and serve as a "bet hedging" strategy.
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Abstract
Existing transfer technologies in the construction of film-based electronics and devices are deeply established in the framework of native solid substrates. Here, we report a capillary approach that enables a fast, robust, and reliable transfer of soft films from liquid in a defect-free manner. This capillary transfer is underpinned by the transfer front of dynamic contact among receiver substrate, liquid, and film, and can be well controlled by a selectable motion direction of receiver substrates at a high speed. We demonstrate in extensive experiments, together with theoretical models and computational analysis, the robust capabilities of the capillary transfer using a versatile set of soft films with a broad material diversity of both film and liquid, surface-wetting properties, and complex geometric patterns of soft films onto various solid substrates in a deterministic manner.
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Pearce P, Song B, Skinner DJ, Mok R, Hartmann R, Singh PK, Jeckel H, Oishi JS, Drescher K, Dunkel J. Flow-Induced Symmetry Breaking in Growing Bacterial Biofilms. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2019; 123:258101. [PMID: 31922766 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.123.258101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial biofilms represent a major form of microbial life on Earth and serve as a model active nematic system, in which activity results from growth of the rod-shaped bacterial cells. In their natural environments, ranging from human organs to industrial pipelines, biofilms have evolved to grow robustly under significant fluid shear. Despite intense practical and theoretical interest, it is unclear how strong fluid flow alters the local and global architectures of biofilms. Here, we combine highly time-resolved single-cell live imaging with 3D multiscale modeling to investigate the mechanisms by which flow affects the dynamics of all individual cells in growing biofilms. Our experiments and cell-based simulations reveal three quantitatively different growth phases in strong external flow and the transitions between them. In the initial stages of biofilm development, flow induces a downstream gradient in cell orientation, causing asymmetrical dropletlike biofilm shapes. In the later developmental stages, when the majority of cells are sheltered from the flow by the surrounding extracellular matrix, buckling-induced cell verticalization in the biofilm core restores radially symmetric biofilm growth, in agreement with predictions of a 3D continuum model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip Pearce
- Department of Mathematics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge Massachusetts 02139-4307, USA
| | - Boya Song
- Department of Mathematics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge Massachusetts 02139-4307, USA
| | - Dominic J Skinner
- Department of Mathematics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge Massachusetts 02139-4307, USA
| | - Rachel Mok
- Department of Mathematics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge Massachusetts 02139-4307, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139-4307, USA
| | - Raimo Hartmann
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Praveen K Singh
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Hannah Jeckel
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, 35043 Marburg, Germany
- Department of Physics, Philipps-Universität Marburg, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Jeffrey S Oishi
- Department of Mathematics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge Massachusetts 02139-4307, USA
- Department of Physics, Bates College, Lewiston, Maine 04240, USA
| | - Knut Drescher
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, 35043 Marburg, Germany
- Department of Physics, Philipps-Universität Marburg, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Jörn Dunkel
- Department of Mathematics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge Massachusetts 02139-4307, USA
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43
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Abstract
Biofilms are surface-associated bacterial communities that play both beneficial and harmful roles in nature, medicine, and industry. Tolerant and persister cells are thought to underlie biofilm-related bacterial recurrence in medical and industrial contexts. Here, we review recent progress aimed at understanding the mechanical features that drive biofilm resilience and the biofilm formation process at single-cell resolution. We discuss findings regarding mechanisms underlying bacterial tolerance and persistence in biofilms and how these phenotypes are linked to antibiotic resistance. New strategies for combatting tolerance and persistence in biofilms and possible methods for biofilm eradication are highlighted to inspire future development.
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44
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Charlton SGV, White MA, Jana S, Eland LE, Jayathilake PG, Burgess JG, Chen J, Wipat A, Curtis TP. Regulating, Measuring, and Modeling the Viscoelasticity of Bacterial Biofilms. J Bacteriol 2019; 201:e00101-19. [PMID: 31182499 PMCID: PMC6707926 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00101-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Biofilms occur in a broad range of environments under heterogeneous physicochemical conditions, such as in bioremediation plants, on surfaces of biomedical implants, and in the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients. In these scenarios, biofilms are subjected to shear forces, but the mechanical integrity of these aggregates often prevents their disruption or dispersal. Biofilms' physical robustness is the result of the multiple biopolymers secreted by constituent microbial cells which are also responsible for numerous biological functions. A better understanding of the role of these biopolymers and their response to dynamic forces is therefore crucial for understanding the interplay between biofilm structure and function. In this paper, we review experimental techniques in rheology, which help quantify the viscoelasticity of biofilms, and modeling approaches from soft matter physics that can assist our understanding of the rheological properties. We describe how these methods could be combined with synthetic biology approaches to control and investigate the effects of secreted polymers on the physical properties of biofilms. We argue that without an integrated approach of the three disciplines, the links between genetics, composition, and interaction of matrix biopolymers and the viscoelastic properties of biofilms will be much harder to uncover.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel G V Charlton
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Michael A White
- Interdisciplinary Computing & Complex BioSystems Research Group, School of Computing, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Saikat Jana
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Lucy E Eland
- Interdisciplinary Computing & Complex BioSystems Research Group, School of Computing, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | | | - J Grant Burgess
- School of Natural & Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Jinju Chen
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Anil Wipat
- Interdisciplinary Computing & Complex BioSystems Research Group, School of Computing, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas P Curtis
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
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45
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Yan J, Fei C, Mao S, Moreau A, Wingreen NS, Košmrlj A, Stone HA, Bassler BL. Mechanical instability and interfacial energy drive biofilm morphogenesis. eLife 2019; 8:43920. [PMID: 30848725 PMCID: PMC6453567 DOI: 10.7554/elife.43920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 03/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Surface-attached bacterial communities called biofilms display a diversity of morphologies. Although structural and regulatory components required for biofilm formation are known, it is not understood how these essential constituents promote biofilm surface morphology. Here, using Vibrio cholerae as our model system, we combine mechanical measurements, theory and simulation, quantitative image analyses, surface energy characterizations, and mutagenesis to show that mechanical instabilities, including wrinkling and delamination, underlie the morphogenesis program of growing biofilms. We also identify interfacial energy as a key driving force for mechanomorphogenesis because it dictates the generation of new and the annihilation of existing interfaces. Finally, we discover feedback between mechanomorphogenesis and biofilm expansion, which shapes the overall biofilm contour. The morphogenesis principles that we discover in bacterial biofilms, which rely on mechanical instabilities and interfacial energies, should be generally applicable to morphogenesis processes in tissues in higher organisms. Engineers have long studied how mechanical instabilities cause patterns to form in inanimate materials, and recently more attention has been given to how such forces affect biological systems. For example, stresses can build up within a tissue if one layer grows faster than an adjacent layer. The tissue can release this stress by wrinkling, folding or creasing. Though ancient and single-celled, bacteria can also develop spectacular patterns when they exist in the lifestyle known as a biofilm: a community of cells adhered to a surface. But do mechanical instabilities drive the patterns seen in biofilms? To investigate, Yan, Fei, Mao et al. grew biofilms of the bacterium called Vibrio cholerae – which causes the disease cholera – on solid, non-growing ‘substrates’. This work revealed that as the biofilms grow, their expansion is constrained by the substrate, and this situation generates mechanical stresses. To release the stresses, the biofilm initially folds to form wrinkles. Later, as the biofilm expands further, small parts of it detach from the substrate to form blisters. The same forces that keep water droplets spherical (known as interfacial forces) dictate how the blisters evolve, interact, and eventually shape the expanding biofilm. Using these principles, Yan et al. could engineer the biofilm into desired shapes. Collectively, the results presented by Yan et al. connect the shape of the biofilm surface with its material properties, in particular its stiffness. Understanding this relationship could help researchers to develop new ways to remove harmful biofilms, such as those that cause disease or that damage underwater structures. The stiffness of biofilms is already known to affect how well bacteria can resist antibiotics. Future studies could look for new genes or compounds that change the material properties of a biofilm, thereby altering the biofilm surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Yan
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, United States.,Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, United States
| | - Chenyi Fei
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, United States
| | - Sheng Mao
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, United States
| | - Alexis Moreau
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, United States
| | - Ned S Wingreen
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, United States
| | - Andrej Košmrlj
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, United States
| | - Howard A Stone
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, United States
| | - Bonnie L Bassler
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, United States.,The Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, United States
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