Spatiotemporal microbial evolution on antibiotic landscapes

A key aspect of bacterial survival is the ability to evolve while migrating across spatially varying environmental challenges. Laboratory experiments, however, often study evolution in well-mixed systems. Here, we introduce an experimental device, the microbial evolution and growth arena (MEGA)-plate, in which bacteria spread and evolved on a large antibiotic landscape (120 × 60 centimeters) that allowed visual observation of mutation and selection in a migrating bacterial front. While resistance increased consistently, multiple coexisting lineages diversified both phenotypically and genotypically. Analyzing mutants at and behind the propagating front, we found that evolution is not always led by the most…

• NI
  Netherlands Institute of Government
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Award: R01-GM081617
• ND
  National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate
• HE
  H2020 European Research Council

  Award: 281891