Figure 6.

Applications of bacterial cell communications A) Microfluidic device with a ratchet structure used bacterial cell-cell communication between two distinct motile bacterial cell types, the communication between cells was established via bridge-channels that connected both concentrator structures. The use of a ratchet structure prevents cells from moving through the bridge channels and insures only cell signaling molecules are able to cross the bridge. Both GFP and RFP cells were loaded at the same time and saw their concentration increased gradually over time¹³¹ B) Schematics of near cell-cell signaling with enhancement or attenuation of the signal molecules from the transmitter to reporter via modulating cells. The use of a 10cm flexible PTFE tube connecting the upstream transmitter cells with the reporter and enhancer/reducer cells downstream was essential for the detection gap time to mimic in vitro human digestion modules. The effluent solutions were collected either immediately after the transmitter cells upstream or allowed to flow downstream were they would encounter the remaining cell populations: test strain, reporter CT104, enhancer LW5, or reducer LW8¹³². 6A. Reproduced from Ref 131 with permission from the Royal Society of Chemistry. 6B. Reproduced from Ref 132 with permission from the Royal Society of Chemistry.