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  • Open Access

Rheologically tuned diffusion modulates quorum sensing in Vibrio fischeri

Chunhe Li1, Zixiang Lin1, Hongyi Bian1, Anqi Li1, Hongyi Xin2, and Zijie Qu1,*

  • *Contact author: zijie.qu@sjtu.edu.cn
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APS Open Sci. 1, 000188 – Published 27 October, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/z4r6-49vn

Abstract

Understanding how the physical properties of a fluid influence bacterial behavior is essential for explaining how microorganisms interact with their environment and with animal hosts. Here, we examine how changes in fluid viscosity and rheological properties affect the locomotion of the marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri and its ability to produce luminescence through cell-cell communication. We track the three-dimensional motion of single cells in well-defined fluids with different physical properties and measure the luminescence emitted by cell populations. We find that fluids with higher viscosity cause V. fischeri to spend more time in a slower, turning-focused swimming mode, which reduces how effectively cells spread out and encounter the chemical signals required to activate luminescence. As a result, luminescence first increases and then decreases in Newtonian fluids, but decreases monotonically in fluids that exhibit non-Newtonian rheological behavior. Computer simulations based on our measurements confirm that the ability of cells to explore their surroundings plays a central role in determining when and how strongly they communicate. These findings reveal a direct link between the physical environment, bacterial movement, and collective behavior, and offer insight into how microorganisms adapt to complex fluid habitats, including those found inside animal hosts.

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APS Open Sci. 1, 000188– Published 27 October, 2026
Vol. 1
  • Received 12 May 2026
  • Revised 26 August 2026
  • Accepted 9 October 2026
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