The putative role of the epipeptide EpeX in intra-species competition.

Bacteria engage in competitive interactions with neighbours that can either be of the same or different species. Multiple mechanisms are deployed to ensure the desired outcome and one tactic commonly implemented is the production of specialised metabolites. The Gram-positive bacterium uses specialized metabolites as part of its intra-species competition determinants to differentiate between kin and non-kin isolates.

Founder cell configuration drives competitive outcome within colony biofilms.

Bacteria can form dense communities called biofilms, where cells are embedded in a self-produced extracellular matrix. Exploiting competitive interactions between strains within the biofilm context can have potential applications in biological, medical, and industrial systems. By combining mathematical modelling with experimental assays, we reveal that spatial structure and competitive dynamics within biofilms are significantly affected by the location and density of the founder cells used to inoculate the biofilm.

Biofilm hydrophobicity in environmental isolates of .

Biofilms are communities of bacteria that are attached to a surface and surrounded by an extracellular matrix. The extracellular matrix protects the community from stressors in the environment, making biofilms robust. The Gram-positive soil bacterium particularly the isolate NCIB 3610, is widely used as a model for studying biofilm formation.

The Intertwined Roles of Specialized Metabolites within the Bacillus subtilis Biofilm.

Bacteria produce specialized metabolites with a range of functions. In this issue of the , Schoenborn et al. study the production and role of secondary metabolites during biofilm development and sporulation in Bacillus subtilis (A.

Pulcherrimin formation controls growth arrest of the biofilm.

Biofilm formation by is a communal process that culminates in the formation of architecturally complex multicellular communities. Here we reveal that the transition of the biofilm into a nonexpanding phase constitutes a distinct step in the process of biofilm development. Using genetic analysis we show that strains lacking the ability to synthesize pulcherriminic acid form biofilms that sustain the expansion phase, thereby linking pulcherriminic acid to growth arrest.

Social behaviours by Bacillus subtilis: quorum sensing, kin discrimination and beyond.

Here, we review the multiple mechanisms that the Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis uses to allow it to communicate between cells and establish community structures. The modes of action that are used are highly varied and include routes that sense pheromone levels during quorum sensing and control gene regulation, the intimate coupling of cells via nanotubes to share cytoplasmic contents, and long-range electrical signalling to couple metabolic processes both within and between biofilms. We explore the ability of B.