Bacteria pattern spontaneously on periodic nanostructure arrays.

Surface-associated bacteria typically form self-organizing communities called biofilms. Spatial segregation is important for various bacterial processes associated with cellular and community development. Here, we demonstrate bacterial ordering and oriented attachment on the single-cell level induced by nanometer-scale periodic surface features. These surfaces cause spontaneous and distinct patterning phases, depending on their periodicity, which is observed for several strains, both gram positive and negative. This patterning is a general phenomenon that can control natural biofilm organization on the cellular level.