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<p>Bacterial competition shapes community architecture, yet a universally conserved determinant remains elusive. We show that cell aspect ratio –a simple morphological feature– confers a competitive advantage. Using growth-based range expansion experiments, we show that longer bacteria conquer the expanding front, even when initially in minority. Using an agent-based model of dividing bacteria, to isolate the effect of aspect ratio, we reveal that the takeover mechanism is collective alignment: groups of locally aligned bacteria form “nematic arms” bridging the central region of the colony to the expanding front. Once at the front, bacteria align parallel to it and block shorter bacteria from access to nutrients and space. We confirm this observation with single-cell experiments and further generalise our findings by introducing a generic continuum model of alignment-dominated competition, explaining both experimental and cell-based model observations. Moreover, we extend our predictions to spherical range expansions and confirm the competitive advantage, even though the effect is less pronounced than in surface-attached colonies. Our results uncover a simple, yet hitherto overlooked, mechanical mechanism determining the outcome of bacterial competition, which is potentially ubiquitous among various bacteria. Current advances in genetic engineering enable aspect ratio tuning as a mechanism with broad implications for biofilm control.</p>

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Emergent collective alignment gives competitive advantage to longer cells during range expansion

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2025年12月19日

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  • Nathan van den Berg,
  • Kristian Thijssen,
  • Thu Trang Nguyen,
  • Mireia Cordero,
  • Alba García Vázquez,
  • Namiko Mitarai,
  • Amin Doostmohammadi,
  • Liselotte Jauffred

摘要

Bacterial competition shapes community architecture, yet a universally conserved determinant remains elusive. We show that cell aspect ratio –a simple morphological feature– confers a competitive advantage. Using growth-based range expansion experiments, we show that longer bacteria conquer the expanding front, even when initially in minority. Using an agent-based model of dividing bacteria, to isolate the effect of aspect ratio, we reveal that the takeover mechanism is collective alignment: groups of locally aligned bacteria form “nematic arms” bridging the central region of the colony to the expanding front. Once at the front, bacteria align parallel to it and block shorter bacteria from access to nutrients and space. We confirm this observation with single-cell experiments and further generalise our findings by introducing a generic continuum model of alignment-dominated competition, explaining both experimental and cell-based model observations. Moreover, we extend our predictions to spherical range expansions and confirm the competitive advantage, even though the effect is less pronounced than in surface-attached colonies. Our results uncover a simple, yet hitherto overlooked, mechanical mechanism determining the outcome of bacterial competition, which is potentially ubiquitous among various bacteria. Current advances in genetic engineering enable aspect ratio tuning as a mechanism with broad implications for biofilm control.