Kinetics-based inference of environment-dependent microbial interactions and their dynamic variation.

Microbial communities in nature are dynamically evolving as member species change their interactions subject to environmental variations. Accounting for such context-dependent dynamic variations in interspecies interactions is critical for predictive ecological modeling. In the absence of generalizable theoretical foundations, we lack a fundamental understanding of how microbial interactions are driven by environmental factors, significantly limiting our capability to predict and engineer community dynamics and function.

Flagellin is essential for initial attachment to mucosal surfaces by .

is one of the leading causes of hospital-acquired infections worldwide and presents challenges in treatment due to recurrent gastrointestinal disease after treatment with antimicrobials. The mechanisms by which colonizes the gut represent a key gap in knowledge, including its association with host cells and mucosa. Our results show the importance of flagellin for specific adhesion to mucosal hydrogels and can help to explain prior observations of adhesive defects in flagellin and pilin mutants.

Flagellin is essential for initial attachment to mucosal surfaces .

Mucins are glycoproteins which can be found in host cell membranes and as a gelatinous surface formed from secreted mucins. Mucosal surfaces in mammals form a barrier to invasive microbes, particularly bacteria, but are a point of attachment for others. is anaerobic bacterium which colonizes the mammalian GI tract and is a common cause of acute GI inflammation leading to a variety of negative outcomes.