Elucidating the mechanism of bacteria-mediated oil degradation by imaging biofilm formation on oil drops in microfluidic traps

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We have investigated cell attachment and early stages of biofilm formation on drops. We have correlated motion between surface-attached cells on the interface. We have found clear liquid crystal ordering of cells on drop surfaces, which indicates that the biofilm is elastic. Further aiding in our interfacial imaging, we have constructed a set of fluorescent and deletion mutant strains. Our constitutive green fluorescent protein (GFP) and mCherry (red fluorescent protein) expressing cells have facilitated imaging of the oil-water interface throughout the process. Moreover, we have measured and analyzed the interfacial properties of the cells and their conditioned components, finding that the cells are more hydrophobic the longer they are cultured using oil and that they develop the ability to enact surface changes.In addition, we have completed RNA-sequencing tests on WT cultured under different conditions and have identified a number of genes that are important for oil consumption. We are currently testing the deletion mutants to see if we can determine the genetic basis of the changes we see.We have also completed a manuscript that describes our results and have uploaded it to the bioRxiv and have submitted it. We are currently undergoing the peer-review process.