The extracellular matrix protein TasA is a developmental cue that maintains a motile subpopulation within biofilms.

In nature, bacteria form biofilms-differentiated multicellular communities attached to surfaces. Within these generally sessile biofilms, a subset of cells continues to express motility genes. We found that this subpopulation enabled biofilms to expand on high-friction surfaces.

Novel antibiofilm chemotherapies target nitrogen from glutamate and glutamine.

Bacteria in nature often reside in differentiated communities termed biofilms, which are an active interphase between uni-cellular and multicellular life states for bacteria. Here we demonstrate that the development of B. subtilis biofilms is dependent on the use of glutamine or glutamate as a nitrogen source.

Collective Vortex-Like Movement of Facilitates the Generation of Floating Biofilms.

Bacteria in nature are usually found in complex multicellular structures, called biofilms. One common form of a biofilm is -a floating mat of bacteria formed in the water-air interphase. So far, our knowledge on the basic mechanisms underlying the formation of biofilms at air-liquid interfaces is not complete.

Toxin-Antitoxin systems eliminate defective cells and preserve symmetry in Bacillus subtilis biofilms.

Toxin-antitoxin modules are gene pairs encoding a toxin and its antitoxin, and are found on the chromosomes of many bacteria, including pathogens. Here, we characterize the specific contribution of the TxpA and YqcG toxins in elimination of defective cells from developing Bacillus subtilis biofilms. On nutrient limitation, defective cells accumulated in the biofilm breaking its symmetry.

Spatio-temporal assembly of functional mineral scaffolds within microbial biofilms.

Historically, multicellular bacterial communities, known as biofilms, have been thought to be held together solely by a self-produced extracellular matrix. Our study identified a novel mechanism maintaining and biofilms-active production of calcite minerals. We studied, for the first time, the effects of mutants defective in biomineralization and calcite formation on biofilm development, resilience and morphology.

Not so simple, not so subtle: the interspecies competition between and and its impact on the evolution of biofilms.

biofilms have a fundamental role in shaping the soil ecosystem. During this process, they unavoidably interact with neighbour bacterial species. We studied the interspecies interactions between biofilms of the soil-residing bacteria and related species.

The Matrix Reloaded: Probing the Extracellular Matrix Synchronizes Bacterial Communities.

In response to chemical communication, bacterial cells often organize themselves into complex multicellular communities that carry out specialized tasks. These communities are frequently referred to as biofilms, which involve collective behavior of different cell types. Like cells of multicellular eukaryotes, the biofilm cells are surrounded by self-produced polymers that constitute the extracellular matrix (ECM), which binds them to each other and to the surface.

Small molecules are natural triggers for the disassembly of biofilms.

Gigantic bacterial communities, termed biofilms, thrive in a variety of situations. Held together by a protective matrix, a biofilm is a bacterial fortress whose inhabitants are much better protected against environmental insults than free-living bacteria. However, knowing how single bacteria can break away from the community could be harnessed to break up biofilms that form on prosthetic devices implanted into the human body.