Morphologies and phenotypes in Bacillus subtilis biofilms |
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Authors: | Xiaoling Wang Shuo Meng Jingshi Han |
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Affiliation: | 1.School of Mechanical Engineering,University of Science and Technology,Beijing,P. R. China;2.John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Science,Harvard University,Cambridge,USA |
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Abstract: | In this study, we explored Bacillus subtilis biofilm growth under various conditions such as the use of substrates with different stiffnesses and nutrient levels using a well-developed optical imaging technique to spatially and temporally track biofilm growth. We also developed a quantitative method to characterize B. subtilis biofilm morphologies under various growth conditions. To determine biofilm rim irregularities, we used the dimensionless P2A ratio, defined as P2/4πA, where P is the perimeter and A is the area of the biofilm. To estimate biofilm thickness from transmission images, we developed a calibration procedure based on Beer- Lambert’s law and cross sectioning. Furthermore, to determine the distributions of different B. subtilis cell phenotypes during biofilm growth, we used a triple-fluorescence-labeled B. subtilis strain that expressed motility, matrix production, and sporulation. Based on this work, we are able to tune biofilm growth by changing its growing environment. |
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