Featured Publications
Social evolution of shared biofilm matrix components
Tai J, Mukherjee S, Nero T, Olson R, Tithof J, Nadell C, Yan J. Social evolution of shared biofilm matrix components. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2022, 119: e2123469119. PMID: 35771939, PMCID: PMC9271185, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2123469119.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsBacteriaExtracellular Polymeric Substance MatrixModels, BiologicalSocial EvolutionVibrio choleraeConceptsBiofilm matrix componentsCooperative public goodsMatrix componentsBiofilm formationBiofilm matrix proteinsMatrix productionSocial evolution theoryBiofilm spatial structureCell surface adhesionEvolutionary timescalesCell clustersRelatedness coefficientsBacterial communitiesBiofilm habitatAdhesion proteinsEvolutionary advantageEvolutionary stabilityMatrix proteinsAssociated analysis toolsDiffusible compoundsHost environmentSocial evolutionUbiquitous modeOutstanding questionsProteinMechanical forces drive a reorientation cascade leading to biofilm self-patterning
Nijjer J, Li C, Zhang Q, Lu H, Zhang S, Yan J. Mechanical forces drive a reorientation cascade leading to biofilm self-patterning. Nature Communications 2021, 12: 6632. PMID: 34789754, PMCID: PMC8599862, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26869-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsBacterial AdhesionBiofilmsBiomechanical PhenomenaModels, BiologicalMutationVibrio choleraeConceptsVibrio cholerae biofilmsSurface-attached aggregatesBacterial communitiesCell-surface interactionsDevelopmental processesBiofilm developmentBacterial cellsCell reorientationExtracellular matrixNonadherent mutantsDifferential growthBacterial biofilmsMechanical forcesBiofilmsBacterial growthDifferential orderingCellsGrowthMutantsLarge collectionMorphogenesis and cell ordering in confined bacterial biofilms
Zhang Q, Li J, Nijjer J, Lu H, Kothari M, Alert R, Cohen T, Yan J. Morphogenesis and cell ordering in confined bacterial biofilms. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2021, 118: e2107107118. PMID: 34330824, PMCID: PMC8346881, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2107107118.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsInherent developmental programsBiofilm-dwelling cellsBiofilm-forming speciesSingle-cell imagingDevelopmental programSpecific matrix componentsCell orderingBiofilm developmentSpherical biofilmsBacterial cellsCell communityExtracellular matrixBiofilm morphologyBacterial biofilmsBiophysical mechanismsMatrix componentsHost tissuesBiofilmsBiofilm growthStiff gelsCellsMorphogenesisMutagenesisSpeciesVibrio
2023
Vibrio cholerae biofilms use modular adhesins with glycan-targeting and nonspecific surface binding domains for colonization
Huang X, Nero T, Weerasekera R, Matej K, Hinbest A, Jiang Z, Lee R, Wu L, Chak C, Nijjer J, Gibaldi I, Yang H, Gamble N, Ng W, Malaker S, Sumigray K, Olson R, Yan J. Vibrio cholerae biofilms use modular adhesins with glycan-targeting and nonspecific surface binding domains for colonization. Nature Communications 2023, 14: 2104. PMID: 37055389, PMCID: PMC10102183, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37660-0.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBiofilm matrix exopolysaccharideFacilitate host colonizationVibrio cholerae biofilmsΒ-propeller domainMatrix exopolysaccharideModular domainsHost colonizationRedundant rolesDistinct functionsAbiotic surfacesAdhesive proteinsHost surfaceHuman pathogensVibrio choleraeAdhesinsBacterial biofilmsHost tissuesColonization modelColonizationBAP1BiofilmsPathogensAntibiotic resistanceRBMCDomainNew Insights into Vibrio cholerae Biofilms from Molecular Biophysics to Microbial Ecology
Tai J, Ferrell M, Yan J, Waters C. New Insights into Vibrio cholerae Biofilms from Molecular Biophysics to Microbial Ecology. Advances In Experimental Medicine And Biology 2023, 1404: 17-39. PMID: 36792869, PMCID: PMC10726288, DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-22997-8_2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsV. cholerae biofilmsBacterial signal transduction networkSignal transduction networksBiofilm formationVibrio cholerae biofilmsKey model systemV. choleraeEcological roleMicrobial ecologyTransduction networksBiofilm maturationEnvironmental survivalCholera pathogenesisMolecular biophysicsRegulatory systemVibrio choleraeEl Tor biotypeBacterial surface attachmentRecent insightsModel systemBiofilmsLife cycleSurface attachmentCholeraeCentral function
2022
Impact of a human gut microbe on Vibrio cholerae host colonization through biofilm enhancement
Barrasso K, Chac D, Debela M, Geigel C, Steenhaut A, Seda A, Dunmire C, Harris J, Larocque R, Midani F, Qadri F, Yan J, Weil A, Ng W. Impact of a human gut microbe on Vibrio cholerae host colonization through biofilm enhancement. ELife 2022, 11: e73010. PMID: 35343438, PMCID: PMC8993218, DOI: 10.7554/elife.73010.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGut microbesOutcome of infectionHuman intestinal microbiotaMurine small intestineUninfected personsEnteric infectionsDisease outcomeIntestinal microbiotaSmall intestineHuman gut microbesCommensal bacteriumEtiological agentOutcomesDiarrheal disease choleraInfectionDisease choleraRecent studiesAir-liquid interfaceBacterium altersBiofilm enhancementStoolIntestine
2020
Nonuniform growth and surface friction determine bacterial biofilm morphology on soft substrates
Fei C, Mao S, Yan J, Alert R, Stone H, Bassler B, Wingreen N, Košmrlj A. Nonuniform growth and surface friction determine bacterial biofilm morphology on soft substrates. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2020, 117: 7622-7632. PMID: 32193350, PMCID: PMC7148565, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1919607117.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAgarAnisotropyBiofilmsBiomechanical PhenomenaFrictionStress, MechanicalSurface PropertiesVibrio choleraeConceptsBiofilm matrix productionBiofilm morphologyBacterial biofilmsAvailability of nutrientsDistinct spatiotemporal patternsImportant physiological consequencesAgar substrateMatrix productionMechanistic insightsPhysiological consequencesBiofilmsSoft substratesSimilar morphologyDiffusion of nutrientsPattern formation processNutrientsBasic mechanismsAgar concentrationEukaryotesMorphological patternsMorphogenesisFundamental determinantsOrganismsGrowthVibrio
2019
Mechanical instability and interfacial energy drive biofilm morphogenesis
Yan J, Fei C, Mao S, Moreau A, Wingreen NS, Košmrlj A, Stone HA, Bassler BL. Mechanical instability and interfacial energy drive biofilm morphogenesis. ELife 2019, 8: e43920. PMID: 30848725, PMCID: PMC6453567, DOI: 10.7554/elife.43920.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSurface-attached bacterial communityBiofilm morphogenesisMorphogenesis programHigher organismsBiofilm expansionDiversity of morphologiesBacterial communitiesBiofilm surface morphologyRegulatory componentsBiofilm formationBacterial biofilmsModel systemEssential constituentBiofilmsMorphogenesisMutagenesisQuantitative image analysisOrganismsDiversityVibrio
2018
Bacterial Biofilm Material Properties Enable Removal and Transfer by Capillary Peeling
Yan J, Moreau A, Khodaparast S, Perazzo A, Feng J, Fei C, Mao S, Mukherjee S, Košmrlj A, Wingreen NS, Bassler BL, Stone HA. Bacterial Biofilm Material Properties Enable Removal and Transfer by Capillary Peeling. Advanced Materials 2018, 30: e1804153. PMID: 30368924, PMCID: PMC8865467, DOI: 10.1002/adma.201804153.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBiofilm removal strategiesMaterial propertiesBiofouling problemsInterfacial propertiesSurface foulingRheological characterizationIndustrial operationsMechanical protectionSurface analysisBiofilm-forming bacterial speciesMultiple surfacesBiofilm-dwelling cellsVibrio cholerae biofilmsSurface-attached communitiesSurfaceRemoval strategiesPropertiesFouling
2017
Extracellular-matrix-mediated osmotic pressure drives Vibrio cholerae biofilm expansion and cheater exclusion
Yan J, Nadell CD, Stone HA, Wingreen NS, Bassler BL. Extracellular-matrix-mediated osmotic pressure drives Vibrio cholerae biofilm expansion and cheater exclusion. Nature Communications 2017, 8: 327. PMID: 28835649, PMCID: PMC5569112, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-00401-1.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsBacterial ProteinsBiofilmsExtracellular MatrixMicroscopy, ConfocalMutationOsmotic PressureVibrio choleraeConceptsBiofilm-forming bacterial speciesSurface-attached communitiesVibrio choleraeActive cell growthModel organismsMatrix-producing cellsBacterial lifeNutrient uptakeEnvironmental perturbationsBacterial speciesBacterial cellsPlanktonic cellsSubmerged biofilmsExtracellular matrixCell growthMatrix productionOsmotic pressureBiofilm growthBiofilmsCholeraeCellsPhysical exclusionMatrix crosslinkingOsmotic swellingGrowthEnvironmental fluctuation governs selection for plasticity in biofilm production
Yan J, Nadell CD, Bassler BL. Environmental fluctuation governs selection for plasticity in biofilm production. The ISME Journal: Multidisciplinary Journal Of Microbial Ecology 2017, 11: 1569-1577. PMID: 28338673, PMCID: PMC5520152, DOI: 10.1038/ismej.2017.33.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHuman pathogen Vibrio choleraePlanktonic growthFree-swimming stateBiofilm formationPathogen Vibrio choleraeSurface-attached communitiesWild-type V. choleraeNon-producing mutantsBiofilm growth modeCell-cell interactionsSuch flexible strategiesBiofilm productionHabitat turnoverPhenotypic flexibilityCompetitive fitnessMolecular programsCompetitive abilityEnvironmental fluctuationsPlanktonic phaseWild typeBiofilm conditionsPlanktonic conditionsEcological conditionsNutrient accessBiofilm producers
2016
Vibrio cholerae biofilm growth program and architecture revealed by single-cell live imaging
Yan J, Sharo AG, Stone HA, Wingreen NS, Bassler BL. Vibrio cholerae biofilm growth program and architecture revealed by single-cell live imaging. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2016, 113: e5337-e5343. PMID: 27555592, PMCID: PMC5018804, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1611494113.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsBacterial AdhesionBacterial ProteinsBiofilmsCell ProliferationHumansSingle-Cell AnalysisVibrio choleraeConceptsV. cholerae biofilmsSingle-cell live imagingSurface-associated bacterial communitiesVibrio cholerae biofilmsSingle-cell technologiesSingle founder cellRod-shaped bacteriaFounder cellsSingle geneBacterial communitiesLive imagingBiofilm architectureBiofilm componentsBiofilm structureCell heterogeneityIndividual cellsMatrix labelingMature biofilmsArt microscopy techniquesCompetition analysisBiofilmsSingle-cell resolution imagingGenesGrowth programCells