Mesoscopic energy minimization drives pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm morphologies and consequent stratification of antibiotic activity based on cell metabolism

© 2018 Sheraton et al. Segregation of bacteria based on their metabolic activities in biofilms plays an important role in the development of antibiotic resistance. Mushroom-shaped biofilm structures, which are reported for many bacteria, exhibit topographically varying levels of multiple drug resistance from the cap of the mushroom to its stalk. Understanding the dynamics behind the formation of such structures can aid in design of drug delivery systems, antibiotics, or physical systems for removal of biofilms. We explored the development of metabolically heterogeneous Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms using numerical models and laboratory knockout experiments on wild-type and chemotaxis-deficient mutants. We show that chemotactic processes dominate the transformation of slender and hemispherical structures into mushroom structures with a signature cap. Cellular Potts model simulation and experimental data provide evidence that accelerated movement of bacteria along the periphery of the biofilm, due to nutrient cues, results in the formation of mushroom structures and bacterial segregation. Multidrug resistance of bacteria is one of the most threatening dangers to public health. Understanding the mechanisms of the development of mushroom-shaped biofilms helps to identify the multidrug-resistant regions. We decoded the dynamics of the structural evolution of bacterial biofilms and the physics behind the formation of biofilm structures as well as the biological triggers that produce them. Combining in vitro gene knockout experiments with in silico models showed that chemotactic motility is one of the main driving forces for the formation of stalks and caps. Our results provide physicists and biologists with a new perspective on biofilm removal and eradication strategies

Systematic review of health data quality management and best practices at community and district levels in low and middle income countries

Research findings have reported lack of reliable health data and poor management for district health information systems in low and middle-income countries (LMIC). This paper aims to review the literature on problems with health data quality management and health information evidences and evidences of best practices and use at community and district levels in LMIC, with a view to making recommendations for future research. Research citations, conference proceedings and diseases surveillance reports from 2000–2011 were accessed in PubMed, Medline, LISTA (EBSCO), CINAHL, Cochrane, and Google. Relevant studies were selected, the methodologies critiqued and synthesized. The researchers accessed 1383, and 38 were reviewed by three reviewers. Poor quality health data, low level of health information use, and poor management of health information systems were found. These findings hinder evidence-based decisions based and planning at community and district levels in LMIC. Though poor practices were found, improved health care services delivery with improved health data efficiency was found to be possible.Web of Scienc