Run-to-Tumble Variability Controls the Surface Residence Times of E. coli Bacteria

Phys Rev Lett. 2022 Jun 17;128(24):248101. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.128.248101.

Abstract

Motile bacteria are known to accumulate at surfaces, eventually leading to changes in bacterial motility and biofilm formation. We use a novel two-color, three-dimensional Lagrangian tracking technique to follow simultaneously the body and the flagella of a wild-type Escherichia coli. We observe long surface residence times and surface escape corresponding mostly to immediately antecedent tumbling. A motility model accounting for a large behavioral variability in run-time duration reproduces all experimental findings and gives new insights into surface trapping efficiency.

MeSH terms

  • Bacteria
  • Escherichia coli*
  • Flagella*