Suicidal chemotaxis in bacteria

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35311-4
• Publication Date: 2022-12-09T12:02:52Z
• Authors: Nuno M. Oliveira; James H. R. Wheeler; Cyril Deroy; Sean C. Booth; Edmond J. Walsh; William M. Durham; Kevin R. Foster
• Keywords: 570; /631/326/22/1290; /49/62; Bacteria; /123; Science; Q; Bacterial; /631/326/41/1319; article; /631/326/46; Article; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Fimbriae; /631/158/856; /38/35; Fimbriae, Bacterial; Biofilms; /14/63; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Humans

Bacteria commonly live in surface-associated communities where steep gradients of antibiotics and other chemical compounds can occur. While many bacterial species move on surfaces, we know surprisingly little about how such antibiotic affect cell motility. Here, study the behaviour opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa stable spatial several by tracking thousands cells microfluidic devices as they form biofilms. Unexpectedly, these experiments reveal that bacteria use pili-based ('twitching') motility to navigate towards antibiotics. Our analyses suggest this is driven a general response effects cells. Migrating reach concentrations hundreds times higher than their minimum inhibitory concentration within hours remain highly motile. However, isolating - using fluid-walled reveals are terminal unable reproduce. Despite moving death, migrating capable entering suicidal program release bacteriocins kill bacteria. This suggests responding if come from competing colony growing nearby, inducing them invade attack. As result, clinical have potential lure death.