Researchers Synchronize Bacterial Motion for the First Time

Researchers at TU Delft have discovered that E. coli bacteria can synchronise their movements, creating order in seemingly random biological systems. By trapping individual bacteria in micro-engineered circular cavities and coupling these cavities through narrow channels, the team observed coordinated bacterial motion. Their findings, which have potential applications in engineering controllable biological oscillator networks, were recently published in Small.

Towards a network of coordinated motion

The findings hold significant promise, paving the way for designing micro-tools capable of inducing controlled oscillations and synchronisation in bacterial systems. Such tools could help scientists study bacterial motility and coordination in confined environments, providing a better understanding of microbial active matter.

The team is now exploring more complex systems by coupling multiple cavities to form networks of synchronised bacteria. “We want to uncover how these networks behave and whether we can engineer even more sophisticated dynamical movements,” Alijani adds.