Analysis of Proteus mirabilis Social Behaviors on Surfaces.

Methods Mol Biol

Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.

Published: March 2020

AI Article Synopsis

  • Proteus mirabilis is an opportunistic pathogen known for its dynamic social behaviors, especially the collective movement called swarming on surfaces like agar.
  • Within swarm colonies, these bacteria can distinguish between their own strains and foreign ones using techniques like boundary formation and territorial exclusion.
  • The text outlines methods for quantitatively analyzing swarm colony expansion and social interactions, providing insights into their collective behavior and competition.

Article Abstract

The opportunistic pathogen Proteus mirabilis engages in visually dramatic and dynamic social behaviors. Populations of P. mirabilis can rapidly occupy surfaces, such as high-percentage agar and latex, through a collective surface-based motility termed swarming. When in these surface-occupying swarm colonies, P. mirabilis can distinguish between clonal siblings (self) and foreign P. mirabilis strains (nonself). This ability can be assessed by at least two standard methods: boundary formation, aka a Dienes line, and territorial exclusion. Here we describe methods for quantitative analysis of swarm colony expansion, of boundary formation, and of territorial exclusion. These assays can be employed to assess several aspects of P. mirabilis sociality including collective swarm motility, competition, and self versus nonself recognition.

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http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-9601-8_6DOI Listing

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