<i>Alcanivorax borkumensis</i> biofilms enhance oil degradation by interfacial tubulation
Manoj Prasad, Nozomu Obana, Shao‐Zhen Lin, S. Zhao, Kaori Sakai, Carlès Blanch-Mercader, Jacques Prost, N. Nomura, Jean-François Rupprecht, Jacques Fattaccioli, Andrew S. Utada
Abstract
will form a biofilm around an oil droplet, but the role this plays during degradation remains unclear. We identified a shift in biofilm morphology that depends on adaptation to oil consumption: Longer exposure leads to the appearance of dendritic biofilms optimized for oil consumption effected through tubulation of the interface. In situ microfluidic tracking enabled us to correlate tubulation to localized defects in the interfacial cell ordering. We demonstrate control over droplet deformation by using confinement to position defects, inducing dimpling in the droplets. We developed a model that elucidates biofilm morphology, linking tubulation to decreased interfacial tension and increased cell hydrophobicity.