swarming motility

Edge evidence

• bacterial-type flagellum enables swarming motility RO:0002327

  Hyperflagellation provides the propulsive machinery for swarming.

  • DOI:10.1038/nrmicro2405 Kearns defines swarming via increased flagella per cell.
• wetting surfactant enables swarming motility RO:0002327

  Secreted wetting surfactant supports multicellular surface spreading.

  • DOI:10.1038/nrmicro2405 Kearns defines swarming via surfactant secretion accompanying hyperflagellation.
• swarming motility participates in bacterial flagellum-dependent cell motility biolink:participates_in

  Swarming is a flagella-driven surface-motility mode.

  • DOI:10.1146/annurev.micro.57.030502.091014 Harshey places swarming among the surface-motility modes of bacteria.
• quorum sensing positively regulates wetting surfactant

  Quorum sensing controls production of wetting surfactants (HAAs/rhamnolipids) required for swarm development.

  • DOI:10.1063/5.0128140 Bru et al. 2023 review: QS regulates HAA and rhamnolipid production needed for swarm development.
• wetting surfactant positively regulates swarm expansion

  Secreted wetting surfactants are required for normal swarm expansion and tendril formation; surfactant-deficient mutants fail to expand.

  • DOI:10.1063/5.0128140 Bru et al. 2023: mutants defective in rhamnolipid production are deficient in swarm expansion and fail to form tendrils.
• bacterial-type flagellum positively regulates swarm expansion

  Flagellar activity, alongside surfactant production, is essential for dendritic swarm expansion.

  • DOI:10.1063/5.0128140 Bru et al. 2023: two activities are essential for forming dendritic swarms - surfactant production and flagellar activity.