From snowflake formation to growth of bacterial colonies II: Cooperative formation of complex colonial patterns

GAME OF COORDINATION FOR BACTERIAL PATTERN FORMATION: A FINITE AUTOMATA MODELLING

In this paper, we use game theory to describe the emergence of self-organization and consequent pattern formation through communicative cooperation in Bacillus subtilis colonies. The emergence of cooperative regime is modelled as an n-player Assurance game, with the bacterial colonies as individual players. The game is played iteratively through cooperative communication, and mediated by exchan...

Cooperative organization of bacterial colonies: from genotype to morphotype.

In nature, bacteria must often cope with difficult environmental conditions. To do so they have developed sophisticated cooperative behavior and intricate communication pathways. Utilizing these elements, motile microbial colonies frequently develop complex patterns in response to adverse growth conditions on hard surfaces under conditions of energy limitation. We employ the term morphotype to ...

Lubricating bacteria model for branching growth of bacterial colonies.

Various bacterial strains (e.g., strains belonging to the genera Bacillus, Paenibacillus, Serratia, and Salmonella) exhibit colonial branching patterns during growth on poor semisolid substrates. These patterns reflect the bacterial cooperative self-organization. A central part of the cooperation is the collective formation of a lubricant on top of the agar which enables the bacteria to swim. H...

Cooperative formation of chiral patterns during growth of bacterial colonies.

Pattern Formation and Morphogenesis ( 1998 ) Modeling Branching and ChiralColonial Patterning

In nature, microorganisms must often cope with hostile environmental conditions. To do so they have developed sophisticated cooperative behavior and intricate communication capabilities, such as: direct cell-cell physical interactions via extra-membrane polymers, collective production of extracellular "wetting" uid for movement on hard surfaces, long range chemical signal-ing such as quorum sen...