The measurement of swimming velocity of Vibrio cholerae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa using the video tracking methods

Innovative fast and low-cost method for the detection of living bacteria based on trajectory

Detection of pathogens is a major concern in many fields like medicine, pharmaceuticals, or agri-food. Most conventional detection methods require skilled staff and specific laboratory equipment for sample collection and analysis or are specific to a given pathogen. Thus, they cannot be easily integrated into a portable device. In addition, the time-to-response, including the sample collection, possible transport to the measurement equipment, and analysis, is often quite long, making real-time screening of a large number of samples impossible. This paper presents a new approach that better fulfills industry needs in terms of integrated real-time wide screening of a large number of samples. It combines optical imaging, object detection and tracking, and machine-learning-based classification. Three of the most common bacteria are selected for this study. For all of them, living bacteria are distinguished from inert and inorganic objects (1 μm latex beads) based on their trajectory, with a high degree of confidence. Discrimination between living and dead bacteria of the same species is also achieved. Finally, the method successfully detects abnormal concentrations of a given bacterium compared to a standard baseline solution. Although there is still room for improvement, these results provide a proof of concept for this technology, which has strong application potential in infection spread prevention.

Reassessing the Standard Chemotaxis Framework for Understanding Biased Migration in Helicobacter pylori

Helicobacter pylori infections are a major cause of peptic ulcers and gastric cancers. The development of robust inflammation in response to these flagellated, motile bacteria is correlated with poor prognosis. Chemotaxis plays a crucial role in H. pylori colonization, enabling the bacteria to swim toward favorable chemical environments. Unlike the model species of bacterial chemotaxis, Escherichia coli, H. pylori cells possess polar flagella. They run forward by rotating their flagella counterclockwise, whereas backward runs are achieved by rotating their flagella clockwise. We delve into the implications of certain features of the canonical model of chemotaxis on our understanding of biased migration in polarly flagellated bacteria such as H. pylori. In particular, we predict how the translational displacement of H. pylori cells during a backward run could give rise to chemotaxis errors within the canonical framework. Also, H. pylori lack key chemotaxis enzymes found in E. coli, without which sensitive detection of ligands with a wide dynamic range seems unlikely. Despite these problems, H. pylori exhibit robust ability to migrate toward urea-rich sources. We emphasize various unresolved questions regarding the biophysical mechanisms of chemotaxis in H. pylori, shedding light on potential directions for future research. Understanding the intricacies of biased migration in H. pylori could offer valuable insights into how pathogens breach various protective barriers in the human host.

Distinct bacterial population dynamics and disease dissemination after biofilm dispersal and disassembly

Microbial communities that form surface-attached biofilms must release and disperse their constituent cells into the environment to colonize fresh sites for continued survival of their species. For pathogens, biofilm dispersal is crucial for microbial transmission from environmental reservoirs to hosts, cross-host transmission, and dissemination of infections across tissues within the host. However, research on biofilm dispersal and its consequences in colonization of fresh sites remain poorly understood. Bacterial cells can depart from biofilms via stimuli-induced dispersal or disassembly due to direct degradation of the biofilm matrix, but the complex heterogeneity of bacterial populations released from biofilms rendered their study difficult. Using a novel 3D-bacterial "biofilm-dispersal-then-recolonization" (BDR) microfluidic model, we demonstrated that Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms undergo distinct spatiotemporal dynamics during chemical-induced dispersal (CID) and enzymatic disassembly (EDA), with contrasting consequences in recolonization and disease dissemination. Active CID required bacteria to employ bdlA dispersal gene and flagella to depart from biofilms as single cells at consistent velocities but could not recolonize fresh surfaces. This prevented the disseminated bacteria cells from infecting lung spheroids and Caenorhabditis elegans in on-chip coculture experiments. In contrast, EDA by degradation of a major biofilm exopolysaccharide (Psl) released immotile aggregates at high initial velocities, enabling the bacteria to recolonize fresh surfaces and cause infections in the hosts efficiently. Hence, biofilm dispersal is more complex than previously thought, where bacterial populations adopting distinct behavior after biofilm departure may be the key to survival of bacterial species and dissemination of diseases.

Confinement, chaotic transport, and trapping of active swimmers in time-periodic flows

Microorganisms encounter complex unsteady flows, including algal blooms in marine settings, microbial infections in airways, and bioreactors for vaccine and biofuel production. Here, we study the transport of active swimmers in two-dimensional time-periodic flows using Langevin simulations and experiments with swimming bacteria. We find that long-term swimmer transport is controlled by two parameters, the pathlength of the unsteady flow and the normalized swimmer speed. The pathlength nonmonotonically controls swimmer dispersion dynamics, giving rise to three distinct dispersion regimes. Weak flows hinder swimmer transport by confining cells toward flow manifolds. As pathlength increases, chaotic transport along flow manifolds initiates, maximizing the number of unique flow cells traveled. Last, strong flows trap swimmers at the vortex core, suppressing dispersal. Experiments with Vibrio cholerae showed qualitative agreement with model dispersion patterns. Our results reveal that nontrivial chaotic transport can arise in simple unsteady flows and suggest a potentially optimal dispersal strategy for microswimmers in nature.

The bank of swimming organisms at the micron scale (BOSO-Micro)

Unicellular microscopic organisms living in aqueous environments outnumber all other creatures on Earth. A large proportion of them are able to self-propel in fluids with a vast diversity of swimming gaits and motility patterns. In this paper we present a biophysical survey of the available experimental data produced to date on the characteristics of motile behaviour in unicellular microswimmers. We assemble from the available literature empirical data on the motility of four broad categories of organisms: bacteria (and archaea), flagellated eukaryotes, spermatozoa and ciliates. Whenever possible, we gather the following biological, morphological, kinematic and dynamical parameters: species, geometry and size of the organisms, swimming speeds, actuation frequencies, actuation amplitudes, number of flagella and properties of the surrounding fluid. We then organise the data using the established fluid mechanics principles for propulsion at low Reynolds number. Specifically, we use theoretical biophysical models for the locomotion of cells within the same taxonomic groups of organisms as a means of rationalising the raw material we have assembled, while demonstrating the variability for organisms of different species within the same group. The material gathered in our work is an attempt to summarise the available experimental data in the field, providing a convenient and practical reference point for future studies.

CO2-Driven diffusiophoresis for maintaining a bacteria-free surface

Dissolution and dissociation of CO2 in an aqueous phase induce diffusiophoretic motion of suspended particles with a nonzero surface charge. We report CO2-driven diffusiophoresis of colloidal particles and bacterial cells in a circular Hele-Shaw geometry. Combining experiments and model calculations, we identify the characteristic length and time scales of CO2-driven diffusiophoresis in relation to system dimensions and CO2 diffusivity. The motion of colloidal particles driven by a CO2 gradient is characterized by measuring the average velocities of particles as a function of distance from the CO2 sources. In the same geometrical configurations, we demonstrate that the directional migration of wild-type V. cholerae and a mutant lacking flagella, as well as S. aureus and P. aeruginosa, near a dissolving CO2 source is diffusiophoresis, not chemotaxis. Such a directional response of the cells to CO2 (or an ion) concentration gradient shows that diffusiophoresis of bacteria is achieved independent of cell shape, motility and the Gram stain (cell surface structure). Long-time experiments suggest potential applications for bacterial diffusiophoresis to cleaning systems or anti-biofouling surfaces, by reducing the population of the cells near CO2 sources.

Spirochete Flagella and Motility

Spirochetes can be distinguished from other flagellated bacteria by their long, thin, spiral (or wavy) cell bodies and endoflagella that reside within the periplasmic space, designated as periplasmic flagella (PFs). Some members of the spirochetes are pathogenic, including the causative agents of syphilis, Lyme disease, swine dysentery, and leptospirosis. Furthermore, their unique morphologies have attracted attention of structural biologists; however, the underlying physics of viscoelasticity-dependent spirochetal motility is a longstanding mystery. Elucidating the molecular basis of spirochetal invasion and interaction with hosts, resulting in the appearance of symptoms or the generation of asymptomatic reservoirs, will lead to a deeper understanding of host-pathogen relationships and the development of antimicrobials. Moreover, the mechanism of propulsion in fluids or on surfaces by the rotation of PFs within the narrow periplasmic space could be a designing base for an autonomously driving micro-robot with high efficiency. This review describes diverse morphology and motility observed among the spirochetes and further summarizes the current knowledge on their mechanisms and relations to pathogenicity, mainly from the standpoint of experimental biophysics.

Role of Flagella, Type IV Pili, Biosurfactants, and Extracellular Polymeric Substance Polysaccharides on the Formation of Pellicles by Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Microbial biofilms are viscoelastic materials formed by bacteria, which occur on solid surfaces, at liquid interfaces, or in free solution. Although solid surface biofilms have been widely studied, pellicles, biofilms at liquid interfaces, have had significantly less focus. In this work, interfacial shear rheology and scanning electron microscopy imaging are used to characterize how flagella, type IV pili, biosurfactants, and extracellular polymeric substance polysaccharides affect the formation of pellicles by Pseudomonas aeruginosa at an air/water interface. Pellicles still form with the loss of a single biological attachment mechanism, which is hypothesized to be due to surface tension-aided attachment. Changes in the surface structure of the pellicles are observed when changing both the function/structure of type IV pili, removing the flagella, or stopping the expression of biosurfactants. However, these changes do not appear to affect pellicle elasticity in a consistent way. Traits that affect adsorption and growth/spreading appear to affect pellicles in a manner consistent with literature results for solid surface biofilms; small differences are seen in attachment-related mechanisms, which may occur due to surface tension.

Bacterial surface colonization, preferential attachment and fitness under periodic stress

Early bacterial surface colonization is not a random process wherein cells arbitrarily attach to surfaces and grow; but rather, attachment events, movement and cellular interactions induce non-random spatial organization. We have only begun to understand how the apparent self-organization affects the fitness of the population. A key factor contributing to fitness is the tradeoff between solitary-planktonic and aggregated surface-attached biofilm lifestyles. Though planktonic cells typically grow faster, bacteria in aggregates are more resistant to stress such as desiccation, antibiotics and predation. Here we ask if and to what extent informed surface-attachments improve fitness during early surface colonization under periodic stress conditions. We use an individual-based modeling approach to simulate foraging planktonic cells colonizing a surface under alternating wet-dry cycles. Such cycles are common in the largest terrestrial microbial habitats–soil, roots, and leaf surfaces–that are not constantly saturated with water and experience daily periods of desiccation stress. We compared different surface-attachment strategies, and analyzed the emerging spatio-temporal dynamics of surface colonization and population yield as a measure of fitness. We demonstrate that a simple strategy of preferential attachment (PA), biased to dense sites, carries a large fitness advantage over any random attachment across a broad range of environmental conditions–particularly under periodic stress.

A vast portion of bacterial life on Earth takes place on surfaces. In many of these surfaces cells collectively organize into biofilms that are known to provide them protection from various environmental stresses. Early bacterial colonization of surfaces, prior to the development of mature biofilm, is a critical stage during which cells attempt to establish a sustainable population. It is not a random process wherein cells arbitrarily attach to surfaces and grow to form micro-colonies. Rather, surface-attachments, movement and cellular interactions take place to yield non-random organization. Using computer simulations, based on individual-based modeling, we demonstrate that simple attachment strategies, where planktonic cells preferentially attach to existing surface-attached aggregates, may confer fitness advantage over random attachment. The advantage of preferential attachment is particularly substantial under periodic stress–a common characteristic of many natural microbial habitats. This is due to a more efficient recruitment of planktonic cells that accelerates the formation of stress-protected aggregates.

A computational model for how cells choose temporal or spatial sensing during chemotaxis

Cell size is thought to play an important role in choosing between temporal and spatial sensing in chemotaxis. Large cells are thought to use spatial sensing due to large chemical difference at its ends whereas small cells are incapable of spatial sensing due to rapid homogenization of proteins within the cell. However, small cells have been found to polarize and large cells like sperm cells undergo temporal sensing. Thus, it remains an open question what exactly governs spatial versus temporal sensing. Here, we identify the factors that determines sensing choices through mathematical modeling of chemotactic circuits. Comprehensive computational search of three-node signaling circuits has identified the negative integral feedback (NFB) and incoherent feedforward (IFF) circuits as capable of adaptation, an important property for chemotaxis. Cells are modeled as one-dimensional circular system consisting of diffusible activator, inactivator and output proteins, traveling across a chemical gradient. From our simulations, we find that sensing outcomes are similar for NFB or IFF circuits. Rather than cell size, the relevant parameters are the 1) ratio of cell speed to the product of cell diameter and rate of signaling, 2) diffusivity of the output protein and 3) ratio of the diffusivities of the activator to inactivator protein. Spatial sensing is favored when all three parameters are low. This corresponds to a cell moving slower than the time it takes for signaling to propagate across the cell diameter, has an output protein that is polarizable and has a local-excitation global-inhibition system to amplify the chemical gradient. Temporal sensing is favored otherwise. We also find that temporal sensing is more robust to noise. By performing extensive literature search, we find that our prediction agrees with observation in a wide range of species and cell types ranging from E. coli to human Fibroblast cells and propose that our result is universally applicable.

Unicellular organisms and other single cells often have to migrate towards food sources or away from predators by sensing chemicals present in the environment. There are two ways for a cell to sense these external chemicals: temporal sensing, where the cell senses the external chemical at two different time points after it has moved through a certain distance, or spatial sensing, where the cell senses the external chemical at two different locations on its cellular surface (e.g., the front and rear of the cell) simultaneously. It has been thought that small unicellular organisms employ temporal sensing as their small size prohibits sensing at two different locations on the cellular surface. Using computational modeling, we find that the choice between temporal and spatial sensing is determined by the ratio of cell velocity to the product of cell diameter and rate of signaling, as well as the diffusivities of the signaling proteins. Predictions from our model agree with experimental observations over a wide range of cells, where a fast-moving, small cell performs better comparing the chemoattractant at different times in its trajectory; whereas, a slow-moving, big cell performs better by comparing the chemoattractant concentration at its two ends.

Rapid effects of a protective O-polysaccharide-specific monoclonal IgA on Vibrio cholerae agglutination, motility, and surface morphology

2D6 is a dimeric monoclonal immunoglobulin A (IgA) specific for the nonreducing terminal residue of Ogawa O-polysaccharide (OPS) of Vibrio cholerae. It was previously demonstrated that 2D6 IgA is sufficient to passively protect suckling mice from oral challenge with virulent V. cholerae O395. In this study, we sought to define the mechanism by which 2D6 IgA antibody protects the intestinal epithelium from V. cholerae infection. In a mouse ligated-ileal-loop assay, 2D6 IgA promoted V. cholerae agglutination in the intestinal lumen and limited the ability of the bacteria to associate with the epithelium, particularly within the crypt regions. In vitro fluorescence digital video microscopy analysis of antibody-treated V. cholerae in liquid medium revealed that 2D6 IgA not only induced the rapid (5- to 10-min) onset of agglutination but was an equally potent inhibitor of bacterial motility. Scanning electron microscopy showed that 2D6 IgA promoted flagellum-flagellum cross-linking, as well as flagellar entanglement with bacterial bodies, suggesting that motility arrest may be a consequence of flagellar tethering. However, monovalent 2D6 Fab fragments also inhibited V. cholerae motility, demonstrating that antibody-mediated agglutination and motility arrest are separate phenomena. While 2D6 IgA is neither bactericidal nor bacteriostatic, exposure of V. cholerae to 2D6 IgA (or Fab fragments) resulted in a 5-fold increase in surface-associated blebs, as well an onset of a wrinkled surface morphotype. We propose that the protective immunity conferred by 2D6 IgA is the result of multifactorial effects on V. cholerae, including agglutination, motility arrest, and possibly outer membrane stress.

Interplay of physical mechanisms and biofilm processes: review of microfluidic methods

Bacteria in natural and artificial environments often reside in self-organized, integrated communities known as biofilms. Biofilms are highly structured entities consisting of bacterial cells embedded in a matrix of self-produced extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). The EPS matrix acts like a biological 'glue' enabling microbes to adhere to and colonize a wide range of surfaces. Once integrated into biofilms, bacterial cells can withstand various forms of stress such as antibiotics, hydrodynamic shear and other environmental challenges. Because of this, biofilms of pathogenic bacteria can be a significant health hazard often leading to recurrent infections. Biofilms can also lead to clogging and material degradation; on the other hand they are an integral part of various environmental processes such as carbon sequestration and nitrogen cycles. There are several determinants of biofilm morphology and dynamics, including the genotypic and phenotypic states of constituent cells and various environmental conditions. Here, we present an overview of the role of relevant physical processes in biofilm formation, including propulsion mechanisms, hydrodynamic effects, and transport of quorum sensing signals. We also provide a survey of microfluidic techniques utilized to unravel the associated physical mechanisms. Further, we discuss the future research areas for exploring new ways to extend the scope of the microfluidic approach in biofilm studies.

Swimming behavior of Pseudomonas aeruginosa studied by holographic 3D tracking

Holographic 3D tracking was applied to record and analyze the swimming behavior of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The obtained trajectories allow to qualitatively and quantitatively analyze the free swimming behavior of the bacterium. This can be classified into five distinct swimming patterns. In addition to the previously reported smooth and oscillatory swimming motions, three additional patterns are distinguished. We show that Pseudomonas aeruginosa performs helical movements which were so far only described for larger microorganisms. Occurrence of the swimming patterns was determined and transitions between the patterns were analyzed.

High density waves of the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa in propagating swarms result in efficient colonization of surfaces

This work describes a new, to our knowledge, strategy of efficient colonization and community development where bacteria substantially alter their physical environment. Many bacteria move in groups, in a mode described as swarming, to colonize surfaces and form biofilms to survive external stresses, including exposure to antibiotics. One such bacterium is Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is an opportunistic pathogen responsible for both acute and persistent infections in susceptible individuals, as exampled by those for burn victims and people with cystic fibrosis. Pseudomonas aeruginosa often, but not always, forms branched tendril patterns during swarming; this phenomena occurs only when bacteria produce rhamnolipid, which is regulated by population-dependent signaling called quorum sensing. The experimental results of this work show that P. aeruginosa cells propagate as high density waves that move symmetrically as rings within swarms toward the extending tendrils. Biologically justified cell-based multiscale model simulations suggest a mechanism of wave propagation as well as a branched tendril formation at the edge of the population that depends upon competition between the changing viscosity of the bacterial liquid suspension and the liquid film boundary expansion caused by Marangoni forces. Therefore, P. aeruginosa efficiently colonizes surfaces by controlling the physical forces responsible for expansion of thin liquid film and by propagating toward the tendril tips. The model predictions of wave speed and swarm expansion rate as well as cell alignment in tendrils were confirmed experimentally. The study results suggest that P. aeruginosa responds to environmental cues on a very short timescale by actively exploiting local physical phenomena to develop communities and efficiently colonize new surfaces.

A model for Vibrio cholerae colonization of the human intestine

Vibrio cholerae is a strict human pathogen that causes the disease cholera. It is an old-world pathogen that has re-emerged as a new threat since the early 1990s. V. cholerae colonizes the upper, small intestine where it produces a toxin that leads to watery diarrhea, characterizing the disease (Kahn et al., 1988). The dynamics of colonization by the bacteria of the intestines are largely unknown. Although a large initial infectious dose is required for infection, data suggests that only a smaller sub-population colonizes a portion of the small bowel leading to disease. There are many barriers to colonization in the intestines including peristalsis, fluid wash-out, viscosity of the mucus layer, and pH. We are interested in identifying the mechanisms that allow this sub-population of bacteria to survive and colonize the intestines when faced with these barriers. To elaborate the dynamics of V. cholerae infection, we have developed a mathematical model based on a convection-diffusion-reaction-swimming equation capturing bacterial dynamics coupled with Stokes equations governing fluid velocity where we developed a novel non-local boundary condition. Our results indicate that both host and bacterial factors contribute to bacterial density in the gut. Host factors include intestinal diffusion and convection rates while bacterial factors include adherence, motility and growth rates. This model can ultimately be used to test therapeutic strategies against V. cholerae.

Interfacial forces are modified by the growth of surface nanostructures

Nanostructures formed by chemical reaction can modify the interfacial forces present in aqueous solution near a surface. This study uses force-volume microscopyto explore this phenomenon for the growth of manganese oxide nanostructures on rhodochrosite. The interfacial forces above the oxide nanostructures are dominated by electrostatic repulsion for probe-surface separations greater than ca. 2 nm but are overtaken by van der Waals attraction for shorter distances. Across the investigated pH range 5.0-9.7, the maximum repulsive force occurs 2.4 (+/-1.1) nm above the oxide nanostructures. The magnitude of the repulsive force decreases from pH 5.0 to 6.5, reaches its minimum at 6.5, and then increases steadily up to pH 9.7. Specifically, fmax(pN) = 23(+/-4)[6.8(+/-2.1) - pH] for pH < 6.5 and fmax(pN)= 19(+/-2)[pH - 6.1(+/-1.0)] for pH > or = 6.5. This dependence indicates that oxide nanostructures have a point of zero charge in the pH range 6-7. In comparison to the nanostructures, the rhodochrosite substrate induces only small interfacial forces in the same pH range, suggesting a neutral or weakly charged surface. The quantitative mapping of interfacial forces, along with the associated influencing factors such as pH or growth of nanostructures, provides a basis for more sophisticated and accurate modeling of processes affecting contaminant immobilization and bacterial attachment on mineral surfaces under natural conditions.

Asymmetric swimming pattern ofVibrio alginolyticuscells with single polar flagella

The swimming pattern of bacteria with single polar flagella has usually been described as "run and reverse". We observed the swimming traces of monotrichously flagellated Vibrio alginolyticus cells and examined the relationship between the swimming pattern and the sense of progress. Swimming in regions other than a solid surface was confirmed to be linear run and reverse. Near a solid surface, the traces consisted of "run and arc"; the cells were found to curve sharply during backward swimming, while they progressed linearly during forward swimming. The "run and arc" swimming pattern may play an important role in the chemotaxis strategy of marine bacteria at solid surfaces.

Single-cell microbiology: tools, technologies, and applications

The field of microbiology has traditionally been concerned with and focused on studies at the population level. Information on how cells respond to their environment, interact with each other, or undergo complex processes such as cellular differentiation or gene expression has been obtained mostly by inference from population-level data. Individual microorganisms, even those in supposedly "clonal" populations, may differ widely from each other in terms of their genetic composition, physiology, biochemistry, or behavior. This genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity has important practical consequences for a number of human interests, including antibiotic or biocide resistance, the productivity and stability of industrial fermentations, the efficacy of food preservatives, and the potential of pathogens to cause disease. New appreciation of the importance of cellular heterogeneity, coupled with recent advances in technology, has driven the development of new tools and techniques for the study of individual microbial cells. Because observations made at the single-cell level are not subject to the "averaging" effects characteristic of bulk-phase, population-level methods, they offer the unique capacity to observe discrete microbiological phenomena unavailable using traditional approaches. As a result, scientists have been able to characterize microorganisms, their activities, and their interactions at unprecedented levels of detail.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa endophthalmitis caused by contamination of the internal fluid pathways of a phacoemulsifier

PURPOSE

To report 4 cases of Pseudomonas aeruginosa endophthalmitis caused by internal contamination of the internal pathways of a phacoemulsifier.

SETTING

Ophthalmology Center, Perpignan, France.

METHODS

Four clinical cases of postoperative endophthalmitis occurred after phacoemulsification. An investigation was necessary to prove the cause of the bacteriological contamination.

RESULTS

Serotyping and ribotyping of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains obtained from the vitreous samples and from the phacoemulsifier showed that all these strains were identical and that the initial site of the contamination was the phacoemulsifier.

CONCLUSIONS

The profession should be cognizant of this cause of endophthalmitis, although its occurrence is rare. Cataract surgeons should test samples from the collection bags of their phacoemulsifiers to ensure there is no bacteriological contamination.