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arXiv · 2107.11123

Run-to-Tumble Variability Controls the Surface Residence Times of ${\it E.~coli}$ Bacteria

Gaspard Junot·Thierry Darnige·Anke Lindner·Vincent A. Martinez·Jochen Arlt·Angela Dawson·Wilson C. K. Poon·Harold Auradou·Eric Clément
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Abstract

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

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Gaspard Junot, Thierry Darnige, Anke Lindner, Vincent A. Martinez, Jochen Arlt, Angela Dawson, Wilson C. K. Poon, Harold Auradou, Eric Clément. 2021-07-23. Run-to-Tumble Variability Controls the Surface Residence Times of ${\it E.~coli}$ Bacteria. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.128.248101

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