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SUMMARY:The effect of cellular crowding on evolution: a bacteria tale and 
 a phage tale - Diana Fusco\, University of Cambridge
DTSTART:20230221T130000Z
DTEND:20230221T140000Z
UID:TALK193465@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Camille Scalliet
DESCRIPTION:Cellular populations expanding in space often exhibit very cro
 wded environments\, where cells have to push onto each other to replicate\
 , leaving little space in between. In these conditions\, the spatial posit
 ion of an individual can be the major determinant of its evolutionary succ
 ess\, as pioneers living at the front of the expansion are much more likel
 y to leave offspring in this favorable position. This phenomenon\, called 
 allele surfing\, has been shown to lead to counterintuitive effects\, such
  as the accumulation of deleterious mutations and waste of potentially ben
 eficial mutants.\nHere\, I will present an experimental quantification of 
 the effect of crowding on the fate of neutral mutations in flat E. coli co
 lonies\, which I will explain using simulations where cells behave similar
 ly to granular materials. I will then show how more complex biofilms\, whi
 ch exhibit a three dimensional architecture\, are able to bypass the probl
 em and release mutants that are temporarily stuck in the core of the biofi
 lm. Finally\, I will switch perspective\, put ourselves in the shoes of a 
 virus and show how\, by contrast\, viral evolution can strongly benefit fr
 om a crowded cellular environment.
LOCATION:Center for Mathematical Sciences\, Lecture room MR4
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