Curvature in biological systems: its quantification, emergence, and implications across the scales
Surface curvature both emerges from, and influences the behavior of, living objects at length
scales ranging from cell membranes to single cells to tissues and organs. The relevance of …
scales ranging from cell membranes to single cells to tissues and organs. The relevance of …
Drying of bio-colloidal sessile droplets: Advances, applications, and perspectives
Drying of biologically-relevant sessile droplets, including passive systems such as DNA,
proteins, plasma, and blood, as well as active microbial systems comprising bacterial and …
proteins, plasma, and blood, as well as active microbial systems comprising bacterial and …
Topological defects promote layer formation in Myxococcus xanthus colonies
The soil bacterium Myxococcus xanthus lives in densely packed groups that form dynamic
three-dimensional patterns in response to environmental changes, such as droplet-like …
three-dimensional patterns in response to environmental changes, such as droplet-like …
Self-regulation of phenotypic noise synchronizes emergent organization and active transport in confluent microbial environments
The variation associated with different observable characteristics—phenotypes—at the
cellular scale underpins homeostasis and the fitness of living systems. However, if and how …
cellular scale underpins homeostasis and the fitness of living systems. However, if and how …
Microbes in porous environments: from active interactions to emergent feedback
Microbes thrive in diverse porous environments—from soil and riverbeds to human lungs
and cancer tissues—spanning multiple scales and conditions. Short-to long-term …
and cancer tissues—spanning multiple scales and conditions. Short-to long-term …
Particle-resolved topological defects of smectic colloidal liquid crystals in extreme confinement
Confined samples of liquid crystals are characterized by a variety of topological defects and
can be exposed to external constraints such as extreme confinements with nontrivial …
can be exposed to external constraints such as extreme confinements with nontrivial …
Collective mechano-response dynamically tunes cell-size distributions in growing bacterial colonies
Mechanical stresses stemming from environmental factors are a key determinant of cellular
behavior and physiology. Yet, the role of self-induced biomechanical stresses in growing …
behavior and physiology. Yet, the role of self-induced biomechanical stresses in growing …
Synergistic phenotypic adaptations of motile purple sulphur bacteria Chromatium okenii during lake-to-laboratory domestication
Isolating microorganisms from natural environments for cultivation under optimized
laboratory settings has markedly improved our understanding of microbial ecology. Artificial …
laboratory settings has markedly improved our understanding of microbial ecology. Artificial …
Tilt-induced polar order and topological defects in growing bacterial populations
Rod-shaped bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, commonly live forming mounded colonies.
They initially grow two-dimensionally on a surface and finally achieve three-dimensional …
They initially grow two-dimensionally on a surface and finally achieve three-dimensional …
Do active nematic self-mixing dynamics help growing bacterial colonies to maintain local genetic diversity?
Recent studies have shown that packings of cells, both eukaryotic cellular tissues and
growing or swarming bacterial colonies, can often be understood as active nematic fluids. A …
growing or swarming bacterial colonies, can often be understood as active nematic fluids. A …