Cell-lysis sensing drives biofilm formation in Vibrio cholerae

• Published in: Nature communications 2024-03, Vol.15 (1), p.2018-2018, Article 2018
• Main Authors: Prentice, Jojo A., van de Weerd, Robert, Bridges, Andrew A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 14; 14/19; 14/63; 38; 631/326/41; 631/326/432; 631/326/46; 631/326/88; 631/80/82; Bacteria; Bacteriophages; Biofilms; Cell Aggregation; Cell Death; Encapsulation; Environmental impact; Humanities and Social Sciences; Lysis; Microorganisms; multidisciplinary; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Survival; Vibrio cholerae
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46399-1

Matrix-encapsulated communities of bacteria, called biofilms, are ubiquitous in the environment and are notoriously difficult to eliminate in clinical and industrial settings. Biofilm formation likely evolved as a mechanism to protect resident cells from environmental challenges, yet how bacteria undergo threat assessment to inform biofilm development remains unclear. Here we find that population-level cell lysis events induce the formation of biofilms by surviving Vibrio cholerae cells. Survivors detect threats by sensing a cellular component released through cell lysis, which we identify as norspermidine. Lysis sensing occurs via the MbaA receptor with genus-level specificity, and responsive biofilm cells are shielded from phage infection and attacks from other bacteria. Thus, our work uncovers a connection between bacterial lysis and biofilm formation that may be broadly conserved among microorganisms. Bacteria form matrix-encapsulated communities, called biofilms, which protect resident cells from environmental challenges. Here, the authors show that Vibrio cholerae cells detect environmental threats by sensing a cellular component released through kin cell lysis, which induces formation of biofilms by surviving cells.