Fig. 3
From: Asymmetric adhesion of rod-shaped bacteria controls microcolony morphogenesis
Cell–substrate adhesion dynamics within the microcolony. a Typical stress field that bacteria exert on the substrate in a WT E. coli microcolony (white contour), with a magnified region for better visibility (inset). White arrows show the direction of the forces. Scale bar represents 3 μm. b Global stress σcolo generated by adhesion forces in WT E. coli (red, N = 12) and mutants (Δ4adh, green, N = 19; Δ4pol, purple, N = 48); WT P. aeruginosa PA14 (cyan, N = 16), and fimbriae mutant cupA1 (brown, N = 14). c Maximal local force measured at adhesion foci, Ffoci. d Number of bacteria inside the microcolony at the onset of second layer formation (N2D/3D) as a function of the force in adhesion foci (Ffoci). e Dynamics of adhesive force (green) and displacement (blue) at an individual pole. If the pole moves slightly, very little force is exerted on the substrate (blue phase). The force increases when the pole moves (pink phase). The force then drops following abrupt displacement (gray phase)
