Similar observations have been made previously for a different Serratia isolate [23]. Figure 2 Interaction of two bodies. a. Colonies (at 7d, tens per dish) sown as single clones (F, R), or as mixtures of two clones (F + Fw, etc.). Note confluence in rimmed clones, as well as the X structures appearing in mixtures of rimmed-rimless clones (arrows). b. Planting (dotting) of a colony to the vicinity of a pre-existing colony (1, 2, or 3 days old, as indicated
to the left); seen 3 days after dotting. Note strong pattern distortion in younger partner in all combinations; confluence of rimmed partners, in contrast to rimless ones; and encircling the rimmed partner by the rimless one. c. Plantings of mixed suspensions (cell ratio as indicated, bar = 1 cm). Two rimmed selleck chemicals llc clones (FFw) give rise to highly variable structures resembling F-bodies, (three parallels from a single experiments shown). A mixture of rimless clones (RW) tends to maintain the identity of each clone. in combinations rimmed-rimless the rimmed partner becomes overgrown, albeit both cell types persist in the center. Close encounters of bacterial bodies In dense plantings, clonal rimmed colonies tend to merge into
confluent colonies (Figure 2a, left). In a mix of lines differing in color (F, Fw), the origin of each participating colony is revealed by the color of its rim. If colonies were dotted close (ca 1 mm) to a growing previously planted colony (24, 48, or 72 h old; Figure 2b, left), the resulting fused selleckchem body resembled a confluent colony, with a common rim and separate centers. The effect was more profound with younger colonies. If a similar protocol was followed with the rimless clones, colonies remained thoroughly delimited, whether in a single culture (RR), or in an RW mixture (Figure 2a, middle): no fusions were observed, and clearly distinguishable furrows developed between bodies in contact. Similarly, dots applied close to an older colony
BCKDHA became inhibited in growth, but kept distinct from its growing older neighbor (Figure 2b, middle). Upon close encounters between rimless and rimmed bodies (RF or RFw), the R colonies grow faster and influence rimmed colonies in four ways: (i) If planted early enough, R colonies can engulf an immature rimmed colony; its body, however, survives and cells can be recovered from such a mixed body (Figure 2b, right). (ii) If F colonies are allowed to grow in the vicinity of an R colony as independent bodies up to 3rd day of cultivation (irrespective if they later grow to confluence or not), they develop to a new colony phenotype with a massive white rim with a thin colored ring at the inner side (a pattern dubbed X here and below; arrows in Figure 2a). Cells from X colonies restore the original F phenotype upon subsequent planting.