https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/s10189-025-00533-z
Research - Living Systems
Bacterial exploration of solid/liquid interfaces: developing platforms to control the physicochemical microenvironment
1
CNRS, LIPhy, Université Grenoble Alpes, 38000, Grenoble, France
2
Laboratoire de Physique, ENS de Lyon, CNRS, Université de Lyon, 69342, Lyon, France
a
sigolene.lecuyer@ens-lyon.fr
b
delphine.debarre@univ-grenoble-alpes.fr
Received:
29
July
2025
Accepted:
24
October
2025
Published online:
29
November
2025
summary of physicochemical cues influencing initial surfaceÚttachment and exploration by individual bacteria: Bacterial long-term contamination of surfaces is a promiscuous phenomenon often linked to harmful processes. Early bacterial exploration of interfaces, governed by adhesion and individual motility, is a known determinant of the subsequent development and persistence of bacterial colonies. However, the mechanisms by which bacteria integrate various environmental signals at these interfaces and modulate their behavior in response remain poorly understood. Here we present methods for designing precisely controlled microenvironments that enable the manipulation of both physical and chemical properties of solid–liquid interfaces, and also permit in situ monitoring of bacteria at these interfaces within microfluidic flow cells. Our aim is to provide an innovative toolbox for the interdisciplinary research community focused on elucidating the complex processes underlying bacterial surface exploration. We illustrate its use here by examining the surface motility of the pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
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© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to EDP Sciences, SIF and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2025
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
