K. Drescher

Evolution of genotypic and phenotypic diversity in multispecies biofilms

This study shows how interspecies interactions in biofilms drive phenotypic diversity in Bacillus thuringiensis, with mutations in spo0A affecting matrix production and coexistence with Pseudomonas species.

Purine nucleotide limitation undermines antibiotic action in clinical Escherichia coli

This study identifies purine nucleotide limitation as a mechanism conferring antibiotic resistance in E. coli by reducing ATP supply and upregulating the purine nucleoside transporter PunC.

Multispecies phase diagram of biofilm architectures reveals biophysical principles of biofilm development

The paper identifies two control parameters, cellular aspect ratio and cell density, that determine biofilm architecture across four bacterial species through experiments, simulations, and statistical analysis.

Vibrio cholerae biofilm dispersal regulator causes cell release from matrix through type IV pilus retraction

This study identifies VbdR as a regulator of Vibrio cholerae biofilm dispersal, showing it induces type IV pilus retraction and matrix protease expression to release cells from the biofilm matrix.

Spatial alanine metabolism determines local growth dynamics of Escherichia coli colonies

This study investigates spatial alanine metabolism in E. coli biofilms, revealing distinct metabolic roles in different regions that influence colony growth and morphology.

Matrix-trapped viruses can protect bacterial biofilms from invasion by colonizing cells

The paper shows that phages trapped in biofilm matrices can kill incoming bacteria, but prolonged exposure allows incoming cells to become protected by envelopment in curli clusters.

Privatization of biofilm matrix in structurally heterogeneous biofilms

The paper investigates structural heterogeneity in biofilms, showing that matrix gene expression varies and that producer cells maintain partial privatization of the matrix, enhancing biofilm robustness.

Dynamic relocalization of the cytosolic type III secretion system components prevents premature protein secretion at low external pH

The paper shows that cytosolic T3SS components in gastrointestinal pathogens relocalize at low pH to prevent premature secretion, and this effect reverses at neutral pH.

Biofilm structure promotes coexistence of phage-resistant and phage-susceptible bacteria

The paper uses simulations and experiments to show that biofilm structure promotes coexistence of phage-resistant and phage-susceptible bacteria compared to planktonic cultures.

Chemotactic behavior of Escherichia coli at high cell density

This study investigates how high cell density affects chemotactic behavior in Escherichia coli, finding that collective motion suppresses chemotaxis at higher densities.

Flow-induced symmetry breaking in growing bacterial biofilms

This study investigates how fluid flow affects bacterial biofilm growth by combining live imaging and modeling, revealing three distinct growth phases and symmetry changes.

BiofilmQ, a software tool for quantitative image analysis of microbial biofilm communities

BiofilmQ is a software tool that enables automated, high-throughput quantitative analysis of 3D and 2D microbial biofilm communities through image cytometry.

BacStalk: a comprehensive and interactive image analysis software tool for bacterial cell biology

BacStalk is an image analysis tool for bacterial cell biology that enables detailed analysis of morphologically complex bacteria through interactive visualization and quantitative data extraction.

Division of labor during biofilm matrix production

This study shows that genetic division of labor in Bacillus subtilis enhances biofilm productivity by allowing specialized mutants to exchange matrix components, outperforming phenotypic specialization.

Cell adhesion and fluid flow jointly initiate genotype spatial distribution in biofilms

This study investigates how cell adhesion and fluid flow influence genotype spatial distribution in biofilms using Vibrio cholerae, finding that adhesion can both increase and decrease clonal cluster size depending on environmental conditions.

Phage mobility is a core determinant of phage-bacteria coexistence in biofilms

This study develops a biofilm simulation framework to explore how phage mobility affects coexistence with bacteria in biofilms, finding that phage diffusion through the biofilm matrix is a key determinant of their interaction dynamics.