(428a) Invited Speaker: The Bacterial Sense of Touch: Chemical and Mechanical Interactions of Bacterial Cells at Interfaces

An important feature of biofilms is the phenotypic difference of cells within the community from those free in solution (planktonic cells). Part of these differences arise from chemical communications (quorum sensing) between closely situated cells on a surface and within the film. However, evidence suggests that even before cells accumulate with sufficient density for a quorum sensing mechanism, bacteria sense the interfacial environment (different from that in solution) through other means. This talk explores the mechanical deformations of interfacial bacterial cells that occur as a result of their adhesion to model surfaces. We share early data on the effects of these interactions on the cells themselves: in some cases cell death is accelerated but in other cases, cells grow. These findings lay the groundwork for material design to manipulate bacterial cells, ultimately killing them or exploiting them for biological and technological benefits.