Mechanical stress compromises multicomponent efflux complexes in bacteria

Abstract

Significance The field of mechanobiology examines how physical forces modulate cell physiology and has traditionally focused on eukaryotic organisms. Here we show that in bacteria, mechanical stresses can interrupt the structure and function of a molecular assembly used by Gram-negative bacteria to survive and grow in the presence of toxins. This work provides evidence that bacteria, like mammalian cells, can respond to mechanical forces through molecular complexes at the cell surface in ways that are relevant to growth. Our observations further suggest that mechanical forces may be used synergistically with other antimicrobials.