Convergent evolution of hyperswarming leads to impaired biofilm formation in pathogenic bacteria Journal Article


Authors: Van Ditmarsch, D.; Boyle, K. E.; Sakhtah, H.; Oyler, J. E.; Nadell, C. D.; Déziel, E.; Dietrich, L. E. P.; Xavier, J. B.
Article Title: Convergent evolution of hyperswarming leads to impaired biofilm formation in pathogenic bacteria
Abstract: Most bacteria in nature live in surface-associated communities rather than planktonic populations. Nonetheless, how surface-associated environments shape bacterial evolutionary adaptation remains poorly understood. Here, we show that subjecting Pseudomonas aeruginosa to repeated rounds of swarming, a collective form of surface migration, drives remarkable parallel evolution toward a hyperswarmer phenotype. In all independently evolved hyperswarmers, the reproducible hyperswarming phenotype is caused by parallel point mutations in a flagellar synthesis regulator, FleN, which locks the naturally monoflagellated bacteria in a multiflagellated state and confers a growth rate-independent advantage in swarming. Although hyperswarmers outcompete the ancestral strain in swarming competitions, they are strongly outcompeted in biofilm formation, which is an essential trait for P.aeruginosa in environmental and clinical settings. The finding that evolution in swarming colonies reliably produces evolution of poor biofilm formers supports the existence of an evolutionary trade-off between motility and biofilm formation. © 2013 The Authors.
Journal Title: Cell Reports
Volume: 4
Issue: 4
ISSN: 2211-1247
Publisher: Cell Press  
Date Published: 2013-08-29
Start Page: 697
End Page: 708
Language: English
DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2013.07.026
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC3770465
PUBMED: 23954787
DOI/URL:
Notes: --- - "Export Date: 1 October 2013" - "Source: Scopus"
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  1. Joao Debivar Xavier
    97 Xavier
  2. Kerry Eileen Boyle
    7 Boyle
  3. Jennifer E Oyler
    4 Oyler