RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Interspecies signaling generates exploratory motility in Pseudomonas aeruginosa JF bioRxiv FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory SP 607523 DO 10.1101/607523 A1 Dominique H. Limoli A1 Niles P. Donegan A1 Elizabeth A. Warren A1 Ambrose L. Cheung A1 George A. O’Toole YR 2019 UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2019/04/12/607523.abstract AB Microbes often live in multispecies communities where interactions among community members impact both the individual constituents and the surrounding environment. Here, we developed a system to visualize interspecies behaviors at initial encounters. By imaging two prevalent pathogens known to be coisolated from chronic illnesses, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, we observed P. aeruginosa can modify surface motility in response to secreted factors from S. aureus. Upon sensing S. aureus, P. aeruginosa transitioned from collective to single-cell motility with an associated increase in speed and directedness – a behavior we refer to as ‘exploratory motility’. Through modulation of cAMP, explorer cells moved preferentially towards S. aureus and invaded S. aureus colonies through the action of the type IV pili. These studies reveal previously undescribed motility behaviors and lend insight into how P. aeruginosa senses and responds to other species. Identifying strategies to harness these interactions may open avenues for new antimicrobial strategies.