BAMS Bacteria meet surfaces: how the micromechanical environment impacts bacterial virulence

Bacteria adhere to surfaces where they form macrocolonies called biofilms. However, the cues that regulate the switch from an individual motile lifestyle to a collective one are not clear. Building on recent evidence, we propose to study whether the bacterial mechanical microenvironment influences this transition. Using a cross-disciplinary approach, we will image bacteria in flow cells in situ as they adhere on mechanically controlled substrates, which rigidity can be tuned from 1-100kPa. Combining imaging and transcriptome sequencing approaches, we will investigate the correlation between mechanical cues, bacterial organization and virulence regulation in early surface colonization.