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Title: Pattern formation by bacteria-phage interactions
The interactions between bacteria and phages—viruses that infect bacteria—play critical roles in agriculture, ecology, and medicine; however, how these interactions influence the spatial organization of both bacteria and phages remain largely unexplored. Here, we address this gap in knowledge by developing a theoretical model of motile, proliferating bacteria that aggregate via motility-induced phase separation (MIPS) and encounter phage that infect and lyse the cells. We find that the non-reciprocal predator-prey interactions between phage and bacteria strongly alter spatial organization, in some cases giving rise to a rich array of finite-scale stationary and dynamic patterns in which bacteria and phage coexist. We establish principles describing the onset and characteristics of these diverse behaviors, thereby helping to provide a biophysical basis for understanding pattern formation in bacteria-phage systems, as well as in a broader range of active and living systems with similar predator-prey or other non-reciprocal interactions.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1734030
PAR ID:
10573495
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ;
Publisher / Repository:
bioRxiv
Date Published:
Format(s):
Medium: X
Institution:
bioRxiv
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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