Helix-like biopolymers can act as dampers of force for bacteria in flows.

European Biophysics Journal : EBJ
Johan ZakrissonMagnus Andersson

Abstract

Biopolymers are vital structures for many living organisms; for a variety of bacteria, adhesion polymers play a crucial role for the initiation of colonization. Some bacteria express, on their surface, attachment organelles (pili) that comprise subunits formed into stiff helix-like structures that possess unique biomechanical properties. These helix-like structures possess a high degree of flexibility that gives the biopolymers a unique extendibility. This has been considered beneficial for piliated bacteria adhering to host surfaces in the presence of a fluid flow. We show in this work that helix-like pili have the ability to act as efficient dampers of force that can, for a limited time, lower the load on the force-mediating adhesin-receptor bond on the tip of an individual pilus. The model presented is applied to bacteria adhering with a single pilus of either of the two most common types expressed by uropathogenic Escherichia coli, P or type 1 pili, subjected to realistic flows. The results indicate that for moderate flows (~25 mm/s) the force experienced by the adhesin-receptor interaction at the tip of the pilus can be reduced by a factor of ~6 and ~4, respectively. The uncoiling ability provides a bacterium with a "go wi...Continue Reading

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Citations

Jun 27, 2013·PloS One·Dilia E RangelManu Forero-Shelton
Feb 18, 2016·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Daniel J EchelmanJulio M Fernández
May 28, 2013·Biophysical Journal·Johan ZakrissonMagnus Andersson
Oct 31, 2014·Molecular Microbiology·Narges MortezaeiEsther Bullitt
Jul 15, 2015·Biophysical Journal·Narges MortezaeiMagnus Andersson
Apr 9, 2015·European Biophysics Journal : EBJ·Johan ZakrissonMagnus Andersson
Dec 5, 2014·PLoS Computational Biology·Matt J WhitfieldWendy E Thomas
Mar 7, 2018·Microbiology·Krister WiklundMagnus Andersson
Nov 1, 2016·Journal of Bacteriology·Bhupender SinghMagnus Andersson
Jul 18, 2018·Nature Communications·Alvaro Alonso-CaballeroRaul Perez-Jimenez
Oct 3, 2019·IUCrJ·Weili ZhengEdward Egelman

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