A Mathematical Model of Diel Activity and Long Time Survival in Phototrophic Mixed-Species Subaerial Biofilms.

Subaerial biofilms (SAB) are intricate microbial communities living on terrestrial surfaces, of interest in a variety of contexts including cultural heritage preservation, microbial ecology, biogeochemical cycling, and biotechnology. Here we propose a mathematical model aimed at better understanding the interplay between cyanobacteria and heterotrophic bacteria, common microbial SAB constituents, and their mutual dependence on local environmental conditions. SABs are modeled as thin mixed biofilm-liquid water layers sitting on stone.

Water activity in subaerial microbial biofilms on stone monuments.

Stone monuments can be difficult environments for life, particularly with respect to liquid water access. Nevertheless, microbial communities are found on them with apparent ubiquity. A variety of strategies for access to liquid water have been proposed.

Complex and unexpected outcomes of antibiotic therapy against a polymicrobial infection.

Antibiotics are our primary approach to treating complex infections, yet we have a poor understanding of how these drugs affect microbial communities. To better understand antimicrobial effects on host-associated microbial communities we treated cultured sputum microbiomes from people with cystic fibrosis (pwCF, n = 24) with 11 different antibiotics, supported by theoretical and mathematical modeling-based predictions in a mucus-plugged bronchiole microcosm. Treatment outcomes we identified in vitro that were predicted in silico were: 1) community death, 2) community resistance, 3) pathogen killing, and 4) fermenter killing.

Relationship between Microorganisms Inhabiting Alkaline Siliceous Hot Spring Mat Communities and Overflowing Water.

The compositions of Octopus Spring and Mushroom Spring (Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA) microbial mats have been thoroughly studied, but the compositions of the effluent waters that flow above the mats have not. In this study, cells in the mats and overflowing waters of both springs were investigated at multiple sites where spp. are the dominant cyanobacteria (ca.

Direct Microscopic Observation of Human Neutrophil-Staphylococcus aureus Interaction Suggests a Potential Mechanism for Initiation of Biofilm Infection on an Implanted Medical Device.

The ability of human neutrophils to clear newly attached bacteria from a serum-coated glass surface was examined using time-lapse confocal scanning laser microscopy. Quantitative image analysis was used to measure the temporal change in bacterial biomass, neutrophil motility, and fraction of the surface area policed by neutrophils. In control experiments in which the surface was inoculated with bacteria but no neutrophils were added, prolific bacterial growth was observed.