细菌群集运动特性的研究进展

Characterization of bacterial swarming motility: a review

摘要:

群集运动(swarming motility)是细菌以群体方式协调性地依靠鞭毛和Ⅳ型菌毛(type Ⅳ pili,TFP)在半固体表面共同运动，是一种典型的协同运动。群集运动因其与生物被膜、子实体的形成、病原体的侵入和微生物的扩散及共生等过程都有着密切的关系而备受人们的关注，是当前微生物领域的一个研究热点。人们对细菌群集运动开展了大量的研究，包括群集运动中关键蛋白表达的变化、细胞间化学交流的变化以及机械性变化等。鞭毛蛋白的表达以及胞内环二鸟苷酸(cyclic diguanosine monophosphate,c-di-GMP)的水平等会对群集运动产生一定的影响，在菌落中复杂地调控着细菌集体行为；群集运动细胞独特的物理性质表现有益于菌落整体的扩张；细菌周围生长环境中的营养和水分含量等因素也在不同程度上影响细菌群集运动的能力。未来，在解析群集运动分子机制的基础上，如何构建一个统一的群集运动模型成为该领域研究面临的一个挑战。

Abstract:

Swarming motility is a typical synergistic motion, in which bacteria use flagella and Type IV Pili together to move collectively on semi-solid surfaces. Swarming motility is a hot topic of research in the field of microbiology because of its close relationship with biofilm formation, fruiting bodies formation, pathogen invasion and microbial dispersal and symbiosis. A large number of studies have been conducted on bacterial swarming motility, including changes in the expression of key proteins, changes in chemical communications between bacteria as well as mechanical changes. The expression of flagellin and the level of intracellular c-di-GMP complicatedly regulates the collective behavior of bacteria in colonies, which consequently impacts the swarming motility. The unique physical properties of swarmer cells are conducive to the expansion of the whole colony. Factors such as nutrient and water content in the surrounding growth environment of bacteria also affect the ability of bacteria to swarm to different degrees. It is challenging to construct a universal model of swarming motility based on the molecular mechanisms of swarming in the future.