Mireia Cordero

Abstract Bacterial competition shapes community architecture, yet a universally conserved determinant remains elusive. We show that cell aspect ratio –a simple morphological feature– confers a competitive advantage. Using growth-based range expansion experiments, we show that longer bacteria conquer the expanding front, even when initially in minority.

Abstract Bacteria's competition for nutrients and territory drives biofilm evolution (1-4). The factors determining the outcome of competition among diverse bacterial species have a broad impact on a wide range of pathological (5), environmental (6), and microbiome interactions (7).

Abstract Bacteria have spectacular survival capabilities and can spread in many, vastly different environments. For instance, when pathogenic bacteria infect a host, they expand by proliferation and squeezing through narrow pores and elastic matrices. However, the exact role of surface structures—important for biofilm formation and motility—and matrix density in colony expansion and morphogenesis is still largely unknown.