Coexistence of fluorescentEscherichia colistrains in millifluidic droplet reactors

Zhao X, Illing R, Ruelens P, Bachmann M, Cuniberti G, De Visser JAGM, Baraban L (2021)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2021

Journal

Lab on A Chip Royal Society of Chemistry

Book Volume: 21

Pages Range: 1492-1502

Journal Issue: 8

DOI: 10.1039/d0lc01204a

Abstract

Understanding competition and cooperation within microbiota is of high fundamental and clinical importance, helping to comprehend species' evolution and biodiversity. We co-encapsulated and cultured two isogenicEscherichia colistrains expressing blue (BFP) and yellow (YFP) fluorescent proteins into numerous emulsion droplets and quantified their growth by employing fluorescence measurements. To characterize and compare the bacterial growth kinetics and behavior in mono and co-culture, we compared the experimental observations with predictions from a simple growth model. Varying the initial ratio (R0) of both cell types injected, we observed a broad landscape from competition to cooperation between both strains in their confined microenvironments depending on start frequency: from a nearly symmetric situation atR0= 1, up to the domination of one subpopulation whenR0≫ 1 (orR0≪ 1). Due to competition between the strains, their doubling times and final biomass ratios (R1) continuously deviate from the monoculture behavior. The correlation map of the two strains' doubling times reveals that theR0is one of the critical parameters affecting the competitive interaction between isogenic bacterial strains. Thanks to this strategy, different species of bacteria can be monitored simultaneously in real-time. Further advantages include high statistical output, unaffected bacteria growth, and long-time measurements in a well-mixed environment. We expect that the millifluidic droplet-based reactor can be utilized for practical clinical applications, such as bacterial antibiotic resistance and enzyme reaction kinetics studies.

Involved external institutions

Technische Universität Dresden DE Germany (DE) Wageningen University & Research NL Netherlands (NL) Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Zhao, X., Illing, R., Ruelens, P., Bachmann, M., Cuniberti, G., De Visser, J.A.G.M., & Baraban, L. (2021). Coexistence of fluorescentEscherichia colistrains in millifluidic droplet reactors. Lab on A Chip, 21(8), 1492-1502. https://doi.org/10.1039/d0lc01204a

MLA:

Zhao, Xinne, et al. "Coexistence of fluorescentEscherichia colistrains in millifluidic droplet reactors." Lab on A Chip 21.8 (2021): 1492-1502.

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