Bacterial Motility Patterns Reveal Importance of Exploitation over Exploration in Marine Microhabitats. Part I: Theory

摘要: Bacteria use different motility patterns to navigate and explore natural habitats. However, how these are selected, what their benefits may be, not understood. In this article, we analyze the effect of on a cell’s ability migrate in chemical gradient localize at top gradient, two most important characteristics bacterial chemotaxis. We will focus patterns, run-tumble run-reverse-flick, that observed characterized enteric bacterium Escherichia coli marine Vibrio alginolyticus, respectively. To make an objective comparison, master equations developed basis microscopic motions bacteria. An unexpected yet significant result is by adopting run-reverse-flick pattern, can reduce its diffusivity without compromising drift in gradient. This finding biologically as it suggests pattern improve microorganism’s sequester nutrients competitive environment.