• Featured in Physics
  • Editors' Suggestion

Mechanically Driven Growth of Quasi-Two-Dimensional Microbial Colonies

F. D. C. Farrell, O. Hallatschek, D. Marenduzzo, and B. Waclaw
Phys. Rev. Lett. 111, 168101 – Published 14 October 2013
Physics logo See Synopsis: Pushy Cells
PDFHTMLExport Citation

Abstract

We study colonies of nonmotile, rod-shaped bacteria growing on solid substrates. In our model, bacteria interact purely mechanically, by pushing each other away as they grow, and consume a diffusing nutrient. We show that mechanical interactions control the velocity and shape of the advancing front, which leads to features that cannot be captured by established Fisher-Kolmogorov models. In particular, we find that the velocity depends on the elastic modulus of bacteria or their stickiness to the surface. Interestingly, we predict that the radius of an incompressible, strictly two-dimensional colony cannot grow linearly in time, unless it develops branches. Importantly, mechanical interactions can also account for the nonequilibrium transition between circular and branching colonies, often observed in the lab.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 25 March 2013

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.111.168101

© 2013 American Physical Society

Synopsis

Key Image

Pushy Cells

Published 14 October 2013

According to simulations, unexpected factors determine how surface films of bacteria grow.

See more in Physics

Authors & Affiliations

F. D. C. Farrell1,*, O. Hallatschek2,3, D. Marenduzzo1, and B. Waclaw1

  • 1SUPA, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Mayfield Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JZ, United Kingdom
  • 2MPI for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Bunsenstrasse 10, D-37073 Göttingen, Germany
  • 3Department of Physics, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA

  • *Corresponding author. ffarrell123@gmail.com

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

Supplemental Material (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 111, Iss. 16 — 18 October 2013

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review Letters

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×