A unique self-organization of bacterial sub-communities creates iridescence in Cellulophaga lytica colony biofilms

Type Article
Date 2016-01
Language English
Author(s) Kientz Betty1, Luke Stephen2, Vukusic Peter2, Peteri Renaud3, Beaudry Cyrille3, Renault Tristan4, Simon David3, Mignot Tam5, Rosenfeld Eric1
Affiliation(s) 1 : Univ La Rochelle, Microbial Physiol Grp, UMR CNRS Littoral Environm & Soc 7266, Ave Michel Crepeau, F-17042 La Rochelle, France.
2 : Univ Exeter, Sch Phys, Exeter EX4 4QL, Devon, England.
3 : Univ La Rochelle, Lab Math Image & Applicat EA 3165, F-17042 La Rochelle, France.
4 : Inst Francais Rech & Exploitat Mer, Unite Sante Genet & Microbiol Mollusques, Lab Genet & Pathol Mollusques Marins, La Tremblade, France.
5 : Univ Aix Marseille, Inst Microbiol Mediterranee, CNRS, UMR 7283,Lab Chim Bacterienne, Marseille, France.
Source Scientific Reports (2045-2322) (Nature Publishing Group), 2016-01 , Vol. 6 , N. 19906 , P. 11p.
DOI 10.1038/srep19906
WOS© Times Cited 28
Abstract Iridescent color appearances are widespread in nature. They arise from the interaction of light with micron- and submicron-sized physical structures spatially arranged with periodic geometry and are usually associated with bright angle-dependent hues. Iridescence has been reported for many animals and marine organisms. However, iridescence has not been well studied in bacteria. Recently, we reported a brilliant “pointillistic” iridescence in colony biofilms of marine Flavobacteria that exhibit gliding motility. The mechanism of their iridescence is unknown. Here, using a multi-disciplinary approach, we show that the cause of iridescence is a unique periodicity of the cell population in the colony biofilm. Cells are arranged together to form hexagonal photonic crystals. Our model highlights a novel pattern of self-organization in a bacterial biofilm. ”Pointillistic” bacterial iridescence can be considered a new light-dependent phenomenon for the field of microbiology
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Publisher's official version 11 1 MB Open access
Supplementary information 22 3 MB Open access
Supplementary Movie S1 7 MB Open access
Supplementary Movie S2 5 MB Open access
Supplementary Movie S3 8 MB Open access
Supplementary Movie S4 2 MB Open access
Supplementary Movie S5 1 MB Open access
Supplementary Movie S6 10 MB Open access
Supplementary Movie S7 7 MB Open access
Supplementary Movie S8 9 MB Open access
Supplementary Movie S9 9 MB Open access
Supplementary Movie S10 8 MB Open access
Supplementary Datasets 53 KB Open access
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How to cite 

Kientz Betty, Luke Stephen, Vukusic Peter, Peteri Renaud, Beaudry Cyrille, Renault Tristan, Simon David, Mignot Tam, Rosenfeld Eric (2016). A unique self-organization of bacterial sub-communities creates iridescence in Cellulophaga lytica colony biofilms. Scientific Reports, 6(19906), 11p. Publisher's official version : https://doi.org/10.1038/srep19906 , Open Access version : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00311/42188/