Capillary bacterial migration on non-nutritive solid surfaces

  • Tomislav Ivanković Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Zagreb
  • Uzi Hadad Ben Gurion University
  • Ariel Kushmaro Ben Gurion University
  • Svjetlana Dekic Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb
  • Josipa Cevid Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb
  • Marko Percela Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb
  • Jasna Hrenovic Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb
Keywords: Acinetobacter, air/liquid interface, Bacillus, biofilm, microscopy, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, surface motility

Abstract

Here we describe an additional type of bacterial migration in which bacterial cells migrate vertically across a non-nutritive solid surface carried by capillary forces. Unlike standard motility experiments, these were run on a glass slide inserted into a Falcon tube, partly immersed in a nutrient medium and partly exposed to air. Observations revealed that capillary forces initiated upward cell migration when biofilm was formed at the border between liquid and air. The movement was facilitated by the production of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). This motility differs from earlier described swarming, twitching, gliding, sliding, or surfing, although these types of movements are not excluded. We therefore propose to call it "capillary movement of biofilm". This phenomenon may be an ecologically important mode of bacterial motility on solid surfaces.

Published
2020-09-07
How to Cite
1.
Ivanković T, Hadad U, Kushmaro A, Dekic S, Cevid J, Percela M, Hrenovic J. Capillary bacterial migration on non-nutritive solid surfaces. Arh Hig Rada Toksikol [Internet]. 2020Sep.7 [cited 2024Mar.29];71(3). Available from: https://arhiv.imi.hr/index.php/arhiv/article/view/1287
Section
Original article

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