Reciprocal sharing of extracellular proteases and extracellular matrix molecules facilitates Bacillus subtilis biofilm formation.

Extracellular proteases are a class of public good that support growth of Bacillus subtilis when nutrients are in a polymeric form. Bacillus subtilis biofilm matrix molecules are another class of public good that are needed for biofilm formation and are prone to exploitation. In this study, we investigated the role of extracellular proteases in B.

Matrix Protein TasA is Interfacially Active, but BslA Dominates Interfacial Film Properties.

Microbial growth often occurs within multicellular communities called biofilms, where cells are enveloped by a protective extracellular matrix. serves as a model organism for biofilm research and produces two crucial secreted proteins, BslA and TasA, vital for biofilm matrix formation. BslA exhibits surface-active properties, spontaneously self-assembling at hydrophobic/hydrophilic interfaces to form an elastic protein film, which renders biofilm surfaces water-repellent.

Lateral interactions govern self-assembly of the bacterial biofilm matrix protein BslA.

The soil bacterium is a model organism to investigate the formation of biofilms, the predominant form of microbial life. The secreted protein BslA self-assembles at the surface of the biofilm to give the biofilm its characteristic hydrophobicity. To understand the mechanism of BslA self-assembly at interfaces, here we built a molecular model based on the previous BslA crystal structure and the crystal structure of the BslA paralogue YweA that we determined.

Microbial Primer: An introduction to biofilms - what they are, why they form and their impact on built and natural environments.

Biofilms are complex communities of microbes that are bound by an extracellular macromolecular matrix produced by the residents. Biofilms are the predominant form of microbial life in the natural environment and although they are the leading cause of chronic infections, they are equally deeply connected to our ability to bioremediate waste and toxic materials. Here we highlight the emergent properties of biofilm communities and explore notable biofilms before concluding by providing examples of their major impact on our health and both natural and built environments.

Bacillus subtilis extracellular protease production incurs a context-dependent cost.

Microbes encounter a wide range of polymeric nutrient sources in various environmental settings, which require processing to facilitate growth. Bacillus subtilis, a bacterium found in the rhizosphere and broader soil environment, is highly adaptable and resilient due to its ability to utilise diverse sources of carbon and nitrogen. Here, we explore the role of extracellular proteases in supporting growth and assess the cost associated with their production.

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.

Density and temperature controlled fluid extraction in a bacterial biofilm is determined by poly-γ-glutamic acid production.

A hallmark of microbial biofilms is the self-production of an extracellular molecular matrix that encases the resident cells. The matrix provides protection from the environment, while spatial heterogeneity of gene expression influences the structural morphology and colony spreading dynamics. Bacillus subtilis is a model bacterial system used to uncover the regulatory pathways and key building blocks required for biofilm growth and development.

Mechanisms driving spatial distribution of residents in colony biofilms: an interdisciplinary perspective.

Biofilms are consortia of microorganisms that form collectives through the excretion of extracellular matrix compounds. The importance of biofilms in biological, industrial and medical settings has long been recognized due to their emergent properties and impact on surrounding environments. In laboratory situations, one commonly used approach to study biofilm formation mechanisms is the colony biofilm assay, in which cell communities grow on solid-gas interfaces on agar plates after the deposition of a population of founder cells.

Systematic microscopical analysis reveals obligate synergy between extracellular matrix components during colony biofilm development.

Single-species bacterial colony biofilms often present recurring morphologies that are thought to be of benefit to the population of cells within and are known to be dependent on the self-produced extracellular matrix. However, much remains unknown in terms of the developmental process at the single cell level. Here, we design and implement systematic time-lapse imaging and quantitative analyses of the growth of colony biofilms.

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.

Plant-environment microscopy tracks interactions of with plant roots across the entire rhizosphere.

Our understanding of plant-microbe interactions in soil is limited by the difficulty of observing processes at the microscopic scale throughout plants' large volume of influence. Here, we present the development of three-dimensional live microscopy for resolving plant-microbe interactions across the environment of an entire seedling growing in a transparent soil in tailor-made mesocosms, maintaining physical conditions for the culture of both plants and microorganisms. A tailor-made, dual-illumination light sheet system acquired photons scattered from the plant while fluorescence emissions were simultaneously captured from transparent soil particles and labeled microorganisms, allowing the generation of quantitative data on samples ∼3,600 mm in size, with as good as 5 µm resolution at a rate of up to one scan every 30 min.

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.

Biofilm Dispersal for Spore Release in Bacillus subtilis.

The dispersal of bacterial cells from a matured biofilm can be mediated either by active or passive mechanisms. In this issue of the , Nishikawa and Kobayashi demonstrate that the presence of calcium influences the dispersal of spores from the pellicle biofilm of Bacillus subtilis (M. Nishikawa and K.

Bacillus subtilis biofilm formation and social interactions.

Biofilm formation is a process in which microbial cells aggregate to form collectives that are embedded in a self-produced extracellular matrix. Bacillus subtilis is a Gram-positive bacterium that is used to dissect the mechanisms controlling matrix production and the subsequent transition from a motile planktonic cell state to a sessile biofilm state. The collective nature of life in a biofilm allows emergent properties to manifest, and B.

The ComX Quorum Sensing Peptide of Affects Biofilm Formation Negatively and Sporulation Positively.

Quorum sensing (QS) is often required for the formation of bacterial biofilms and is a popular target of biofilm control strategies. Previous studies implicate the ComQXPA quorum sensing system of as a promoter of biofilm formation. Here, we report that ComX signaling peptide deficient mutants form thicker and more robust pellicle biofilms that contain chains of cells.

The majority of the matrix protein TapA is dispensable for Bacillus subtilis colony biofilm architecture.

Biofilm formation is a co-operative behaviour, where microbial cells become embedded in an extracellular matrix. This biomolecular matrix helps manifest the beneficial or detrimental outcome mediated by the collective of cells. Bacillus subtilis is an important bacterium for understanding the principles of biofilm formation.

Comment on "Rivalry in Bacillus subtilis colonies: enemy or family?".

It is well known that biofilms are one of the most widespread forms of life on Earth, capable of colonising almost any environment from humans to metals.

Probiotic Bacillus subtilis Protects against α-Synuclein Aggregation in C. elegans.

Recent discoveries have implicated the gut microbiome in the progression and severity of Parkinson's disease; however, how gut bacteria affect such neurodegenerative disorders remains unclear. Here, we report that the Bacillus subtilis probiotic strain PXN21 inhibits α-synuclein aggregation and clears preformed aggregates in an established Caenorhabditis elegans model of synucleinopathy. This protection is seen in young and aging animals and is partly mediated by DAF-16.

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.