Competitive Distribution of Public Goods: The Role of Quorum Sensing in the Development of Bacteria Colonies
The production of public goods is a necessary condition for the survival of the species, but it comes at the expense of individual growth. In a prototype bacterial colony, we model the role of quorum sensing as a resource redistribution mechanism. Two types of bacterial colonies are analyzed, one ma...
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| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-06-01
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| Series: | Biophysica |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4125/4/3/23 |
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| author | Eleonora Alfinito Matteo Beccaria |
| author_facet | Eleonora Alfinito Matteo Beccaria |
| author_sort | Eleonora Alfinito |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The production of public goods is a necessary condition for the survival of the species, but it comes at the expense of individual growth. In a prototype bacterial colony, we model the role of quorum sensing as a resource redistribution mechanism. Two types of bacterial colonies are analyzed, one made up of a single strain and one made up of two different strains. Based on a recent series of experimental data present in the literature, we analyze two types of strains with different extinction times: strains that consume available resources very quickly, therefore becoming extinct quickly, and strains that consume resources slowly and die due to aging. We show that the proposed quorum sensing model describes the main experimental result that coexistence may favor the survival of both strains. Furthermore, the production of public goods is maximized when both types of individuals have the maximum proliferation output. Finally, we highlight the role played by so-called dormant cells in the duration of survival time. These cells are of particular interest because their ability to counteract different types of stress (e.g., the use of antibiotics) still constitutes a challenge. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e623fd8ff48a4e548d269a4738d796e4 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2673-4125 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biophysica |
| spelling | doaj-art-e623fd8ff48a4e548d269a4738d796e42025-08-20T01:56:05ZengMDPI AGBiophysica2673-41252024-06-014332733910.3390/biophysica4030023Competitive Distribution of Public Goods: The Role of Quorum Sensing in the Development of Bacteria ColoniesEleonora Alfinito0Matteo Beccaria1Department of Mathematics and Physics ‘Ennio De Giorgi’, University of Salento, I-73100 Lecce, ItalyDepartment of Mathematics and Physics ‘Ennio De Giorgi’, University of Salento, I-73100 Lecce, ItalyThe production of public goods is a necessary condition for the survival of the species, but it comes at the expense of individual growth. In a prototype bacterial colony, we model the role of quorum sensing as a resource redistribution mechanism. Two types of bacterial colonies are analyzed, one made up of a single strain and one made up of two different strains. Based on a recent series of experimental data present in the literature, we analyze two types of strains with different extinction times: strains that consume available resources very quickly, therefore becoming extinct quickly, and strains that consume resources slowly and die due to aging. We show that the proposed quorum sensing model describes the main experimental result that coexistence may favor the survival of both strains. Furthermore, the production of public goods is maximized when both types of individuals have the maximum proliferation output. Finally, we highlight the role played by so-called dormant cells in the duration of survival time. These cells are of particular interest because their ability to counteract different types of stress (e.g., the use of antibiotics) still constitutes a challenge.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4125/4/3/23quorum sensingcooperationagent-based model |
| spellingShingle | Eleonora Alfinito Matteo Beccaria Competitive Distribution of Public Goods: The Role of Quorum Sensing in the Development of Bacteria Colonies Biophysica quorum sensing cooperation agent-based model |
| title | Competitive Distribution of Public Goods: The Role of Quorum Sensing in the Development of Bacteria Colonies |
| title_full | Competitive Distribution of Public Goods: The Role of Quorum Sensing in the Development of Bacteria Colonies |
| title_fullStr | Competitive Distribution of Public Goods: The Role of Quorum Sensing in the Development of Bacteria Colonies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Competitive Distribution of Public Goods: The Role of Quorum Sensing in the Development of Bacteria Colonies |
| title_short | Competitive Distribution of Public Goods: The Role of Quorum Sensing in the Development of Bacteria Colonies |
| title_sort | competitive distribution of public goods the role of quorum sensing in the development of bacteria colonies |
| topic | quorum sensing cooperation agent-based model |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4125/4/3/23 |
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