P. Pearce

Pattern formation along signaling gradients driven by active droplet behaviour of cell groups

The paper shows that Dictyostelium cells form swarms that behave like active droplets, leading to clump deposition and differentiation through a 'musical chairs' mechanism.

Motility-Induced Phase Separation Mediated by Bacterial Quorum Sensing

The paper develops a multiscale model of motility-induced phase separation in bacteria, showing how genetic regulation of signaling and motility affects phase separation and introduces an oscillatory instability.

Biophysical basis of phage liquid crystalline droplet-mediated antibiotic tolerance in pathogenic bacteria

This study investigates liquid crystalline droplets formed by inoviral phages in bacteria, showing they protect cells from antibiotics through biophysical properties rather than surface chemistry.

Universal dynamics of biological pattern formation in spatio-temporal morphogen variations

This study develops a general theory to explain how cells decode spatio-temporal morphogen variations into robust patterns, applicable across biological systems.

Emergent robustness of bacterial quorum sensing in fluid flow

This study develops a theory to understand how bacterial quorum sensing responds to fluid flow, finding that positive feedback enables robust collective responses despite flow-induced concentration gradients.

Flow-induced symmetry breaking in growing bacterial biofilms

This study investigates how fluid flow affects bacterial biofilm growth by combining live imaging and modeling, revealing three distinct growth phases and symmetry changes.