Bacterial Swashing: Microbial Minutes
Researchers uncovered a new mode of bacterial migration called swashing; cells ride waves of fluid pulled from agar as a result of fermentation-associated osmolyte production.
What's Hot in the Microbial Sciences?
Bacteria have a lot of ways of getting around—they twitch, they glide, they swim, they slide. New research suggests they also swash, a wave-like movement that does not require flagella. Key takeaways and sources used in this Microbial Minutes are below.
Key Takeaways
- Observed in E. coli and Salmonella mutants lacking functioning flagella, swashing involves a fluid bulge at the colony edge that pushes cells outward, enabling surface migration without traditional propulsion.
- Bacteria ferment sugars, producing acetate and formate, which alter pH and osmolarity. This pulls water from agar, creating bulges that move colonies in a rhythmic, wave-like pattern.
- Understanding swashing could inform strategies to limit bacterial spread on moist surfaces (e.g., wounds, medical devices, food processing environments) and inspire new therapeutic or sanitation approaches.
Sources
The Paper
- Panich J., et al. . Journal of Bacteriology, Nov. 3, 2025.
Additional Resources
- Harth R. . ASU News, Nov. 3, 2025.
- Partridge J.D. . Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Feb. 8, 2022.
- Wadhwa N. and Berg H.C. . Nature Reviews Microbiology, Sept. 21, 2021.
We want to hear from you! Please take 2-3 minutes to fill out the survey linked below. Your answers will help us improve future Microbial Minutes. And don't forget to subscribe to 海角直播's YouTube channel to be notified whenever a new video drops.
