Stigmergy: A key driver of self-organization in bacterial biofilms

Gloag, ES; Javed, MA; Wang, H; Gee, ML; Wade, SA; Turnbull, L; Whitchurch, CB

Stigmergy: A key driver of self-organization in bacterial biofilms

Gloag, ES Javed, MA Wang, H Gee, ML Wade, SA Turnbull, L

Whitchurch, CB

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Communicative and Integrative Biology, 2013, 6 (6)
Issue Date:: 2013-12-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Gloag, ES	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Javed, MA	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Wang, H	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Gee, ML	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Wade, SA	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Turnbull, L https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9255-9033	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Whitchurch, CB https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2296-3791	en_US
dc.date.available	2013-11-25	en_US
dc.date.issued	2013-12-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Communicative and Integrative Biology, 2013, 6 (6)	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	1942-0889	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/37918
dc.description.abstract	Bacterial biofilms are complex multicellular communities that are often associated with the emergence of largescale patterns across the biofilm. How bacteria self-organize to form these structured communities is an area of active research. We have recently determined that the emergence of an intricate network of trails that forms during the twitching motility mediated expansion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms is attributed to an interconnected furrow system that is forged in the solidified nutrient media by aggregates of cells as they migrate across the media surface. This network acts as a means for self-organization of collective behavior during biofilm expansion as the cells following these vanguard aggregates were preferentially confined within the furrow network resulting in the formation of an intricate network of trails of cells. Here we further explore the process by which the intricate network of trails emerges. We have determined that the formation of the intricate network of furrows is associated with significant remodeling of the sub-stratum underlying the biofilm. The concept of stigmergy has been used to describe a variety of selforganization processes observed in higher organisms and abiotic systems that involve indirect communication via persistent cues in the environment left by individuals that influence the behavior of other individuals of the group at a later point in time. We propose that the concept of stigmergy can also be applied to describe self-organization of bacterial biofilms and can be included in the repertoire of systems used by bacteria to coordinate complex multicellular behaviors. © 2013 Landes Bioscience.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Communicative and Integrative Biology	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.4161/cib.27331	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Developmental Biology	en_US
dc.title	Stigmergy: A key driver of self-organization in bacterial biofilms	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	6	en_US
utslib.for	060307 Host-Parasite Interactions	en_US
utslib.for	0601 Biochemistry and Cell Biology	en_US
utslib.for	0603 Evolutionary Biology	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - ithree - Institute of Infection, Immunity and Innovation
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.issue	6	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	6	en_US

Abstract:

Bacterial biofilms are complex multicellular communities that are often associated with the emergence of largescale patterns across the biofilm. How bacteria self-organize to form these structured communities is an area of active research. We have recently determined that the emergence of an intricate network of trails that forms during the twitching motility mediated expansion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms is attributed to an interconnected furrow system that is forged in the solidified nutrient media by aggregates of cells as they migrate across the media surface. This network acts as a means for self-organization of collective behavior during biofilm expansion as the cells following these vanguard aggregates were preferentially confined within the furrow network resulting in the formation of an intricate network of trails of cells. Here we further explore the process by which the intricate network of trails emerges. We have determined that the formation of the intricate network of furrows is associated with significant remodeling of the sub-stratum underlying the biofilm. The concept of stigmergy has been used to describe a variety of selforganization processes observed in higher organisms and abiotic systems that involve indirect communication via persistent cues in the environment left by individuals that influence the behavior of other individuals of the group at a later point in time. We propose that the concept of stigmergy can also be applied to describe self-organization of bacterial biofilms and can be included in the repertoire of systems used by bacteria to coordinate complex multicellular behaviors. © 2013 Landes Bioscience.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/37918