Nonmotile Subpopulations of <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> Repress Flagellar Motility in Motile Cells through a Type IV Pilus- and Pel-Dependent Mechanism
Kimberley A. Lewis, Danielle M. Vermilyea, Shanice S. Webster, Christopher J. Geiger, Jaime de Anda, Gerard C. L. Wong, George A. O’Toole, Deborah A. Hogan
Abstract
Our study shows that, under the conditions tested, a small population of non-swarming cells can impact the motility behavior of a larger population. The interactions that lead to the suppression of swarming motility require type IV pili and a secreted polysaccharide, two factors with known roles in biofilm formation. These data suggest that interactions between motile and nonmotile cells may enhance the transition to sessile growth in populations and promote interactions between cells with different genotypes.
Topics & Concepts
Swarming (honey bee)BiologyPilusSwarming motilityFlagellumMotilityBiofilmMicrobiologyPopulationPseudomonas aeruginosaMutantCell biologyChemotaxisBacteriaVirulenceQuorum sensingGeneticsGeneReceptorSociologyDemographyBacterial biofilms and quorum sensingMicro and Nano RoboticsSlime Mold and Myxomycetes Research