Bacterial aggregation in optical traps

Abstract

In this work, we study how to grow biofilms and control their growth with optical trapping techniques. In low nutrition media Bacillus subtilis (NCIB 3610) secretes extracellular polymeric substance (EPS), glue-like substance, and ultimately form a biofilm. To observe cells aggregation into clusters and the dynamics of controlled biofilm formation, we utilize an optical tweezers system built around a commercial inverted microscope. A highly focused near-infrared laser beam generated by our optical tweezers attracts cells toward the center of the laser beam, where they are trapped into clusters.