swarming
Research ArticleCell Shape and Population Migration Are Distinct Steps of Proteus mirabilis Swarming That Are Decoupled on High-Percentage AgarHow surfaces influence cell size, cell-cell interactions, and population migration for robust swarmers like P. mirabilis is not fully understood. Here, we have elucidated how cells change length along a spectrum of sizes that positively correlates with increases in agar concentration, regardless of population migration. Single-cell phenotypes can be decoupled from...
Research ArticlePrevention of Surface-Associated Calcium Phosphate by the Pseudomonas syringae Two-Component System CvsSRBacteria are capable of precipitating and dissolving minerals. We previously reported the characterization of the two-component system CvsSR in the plant-pathogenic bacterium Pseudomonas syringae. CvsSR responds to the presence of calcium and is important for causing disease. Here, we show that CvsSR controls the ability of the bacterium to prevent calcium phosphate...
Research Article | SpotlightAssembly Order of Flagellar Rod Subunits in Bacillus subtilisBacteria rotate propeller-like flagella to find and colonize environmental niches. The flagellum is a complex machine, and the understanding of its structure is still incomplete. Here, we characterize and biochemically define the assembly order of the subunits that make up the axle-like rod. The rod is a critical structure for the assembly of subsequent components and is central to our understanding of how the flagellum is anchored but...
- Research ArticleSwarmer Cell Development of the Bacterium Proteus mirabilis Requires the Conserved Enterobacterial Common Antigen Biosynthesis Gene rffG
Proteus mirabilis swarm motility has been implicated in pathogenesis. We have found that cells deploy multiple uncharacterized strategies to handle cell envelope stress beyond the Rcs phosphorelay when attempting to engage in swarm motility. While RcsB is known to directly inhibit the master transcriptional regulator for swarming, we have shown an additional role for...