Universität zu Köln

Zoellner, Robert, Oldewurtel, Enno R., Kouzel, Nadzeya and Maier, Berenike ORCID: 0000-0001-6971-9927 (2017). Phase and antigenic variation govern competition dynamics through positioning in bacterial colonies. Sci Rep, 7. LONDON: NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP. ISSN 2045-2322

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Abstract

Cellular positioning towards the surface of bacterial colonies and biofilms can enhance dispersal, provide a selective advantage due to increased nutrient and space availability, or shield interior cells from external stresses. Little is known about the molecular mechanisms that govern bacterial positioning. Using the type IV pilus (T4P) of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, we tested the hypothesis that the processes of phase and antigenic variation govern positioning and thus enhance bacterial fitness in expanding gonococcal colonies. By independently tuning growth rate and T4P-mediated interaction forces, we show that the loss of T4P and the subsequent segregation to the front confers a strong selective advantage. Sequencing of the major pilin gene of the spatially segregated sub-populations and an investigation of the spatio-temporal population dynamics was carried out. Our findings indicate that pilin phase and antigenic variation generate a standing variation of pilin sequences within the inoculation zone, while variants associated with a non-piliated phenotype segregate to the front of the growing colony. We conclude that tuning of attractive forces by phase and antigenic variation is a powerful mechanism for governing the dynamics of bacterial colonies.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Zoellner, Robert UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Oldewurtel, Enno R. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Kouzel, Nadzeya UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Maier, Berenike UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0001-6971-9927 UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-217467
DOI:	10.1038/s41598-017-12472-7
Journal or Publication Title:	Sci Rep
Volume:	7
Date:	2017
Publisher:	NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP
Place of Publication:	LONDON
ISSN:	2045-2322
Language:	English
Faculty:	Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
Divisions:	Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences > Department of Physics > Institut für Biologische Physik
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language NEISSERIA-GONORRHOEAE; PSEUDOMONAS-AERUGINOSA; GENE; MUTATIONS; BIOFILMS; MENINGITIDIS; ASSOCIATION; EVOLUTION; SEQUENCES; VARIANTS Multiple languages Multidisciplinary Sciences Multiple languages
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/21746