Biofilms: An Overview of Their Significance in Plant and Soil Health

Ahmad, Iqbal; Khan, Mohammad Saeed; Altaf, Mohammad; Qais, Faizan Abul; Ansari, Firoz Ahmad; Rumbaugh, Kendra P.

doi:10.1002/9781119246329.ch1

Cited by 17 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 135 publications

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“…At this stage, however, dispersal also becomes an option. Because bacteria have evolved to sense environmental changes that may make it disadvantageous to reside within the biofilm, dispersal may not only be passive but also occurs as a result of perceived alterations in nutrient availability, oxygen fluctuations, an increase in toxic products or other stressful conditions (Ahmad et al, 2017).…”

Section: Biofilm As An Ecologically Advantageous Lifestylementioning

confidence: 99%

Could Bacillus biofilms enhance the effectivity of biocontrol strategies in the phyllosphere?

Fessia

Barra

Barros

et al. 2022

Journal of Applied Microbiology

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Maize (Zea mays L.), a major crop in Argentina and a staple food around the world, is affected by the emergence and re-emergence of foliar diseases. Agrochemicals are the main control strategy nowadays; however, they can cause resistance in insects and microbial pathogens and have negative effects on the environment and human health. An emerging alternative is the use of living organisms, i.e. microbial biocontrol agents, to suppress plant pathogen populations. This is a risk-free approach when the organisms acting as biocontrol agents come from the same ecosystem as the foliar pathogens they are meant to antagonize. Some epiphytic microorganisms may form biofilm by becoming aggregated and attached to a surface, as is the case of spore-forming bacteria from the genus Bacillus. Their ability to sporulate and their tolerance to long storage periods make them a frequently used biocontrol agent.Moreover, the biofilm that they create protects them against different abiotic and biotic factors and helps them to acquire nutrients, which ensures their survival on the plants they protect. This review analyzes the interactions that the phyllosphereinhabiting Bacillus genus establishes with its environment through biofilm, and how this lifestyle could serve to design effective biological control strategies.

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Section: Biofilm As An Ecologically Advantageous Lifestylementioning

confidence: 99%

Could Bacillus biofilms enhance the effectivity of biocontrol strategies in the phyllosphere?

Fessia

Barra

Barros

et al. 2022

Journal of Applied Microbiology

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“…The use of reclaimed water or sewage sludge in agriculture, without the control of the concentration of micropollutants, could have a negative effect on the capability of bacteria to form biofilms on plant surfaces and www.nature.com/scientificreports/ subsequently lead to decreased protection of plants. Soil exposure to MIT and PCMX may disrupt rhizosphere ecosystems and make plants more susceptible to disease, resulting in poor growth and decreased agricultural yield 62 .…”

Section: Inhibition Of Biofilm Formationmentioning

confidence: 99%

In vitro study of the ecotoxicological risk of methylisothiazolinone and chloroxylenol towards soil bacteria

Nowak-Lange

Niedziałkowska

Bernat

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

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Methylisothiazolinone (MIT) and chloroxylenol (PCMX) are popular disinfectants often used in personal care products (PCPs). The unregulated discharge of these micropollutants into the environment, as well as the use of sewage sludge as fertilizer and reclaimed water in agriculture, poses a serious threat to ecosystems. However, research into their ecotoxicity towards nontarget organisms is very limited. In the present study, for the first time, the ecotoxicity of biocides to Pseudomonas putida, Pseudomonas moorei, Sphingomonas mali, and Bacillus subtilis was examined. The toxicity of MIT and PCMX was evaluated using the microdilution method, and their influence on the viability of bacterial cells was investigated by the AlamarBlue® test. The ability of the tested bacteria to form biofilms was examined by a microtiter plate assay. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was measured with CM-H2DCFDA. The effect of MIT and PCMX on phytohormone indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production was determined by spectrophotometry and LC‒MS/MS techniques. The permeability of bacterial cell membranes was studied using the SYTOX Green assay. Changes in the phospholipid profile were analysed using LC‒MS/MS. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) values ranged from 3.907 to 15.625 mg L−1 for MIT and 62.5 to 250 mg L−1 for PCMX, indicating that MIT was more toxic. With increasing concentrations of MIT and PCMX, the cell viability, biofilm formation ability and phytohormone synthesis were maximally inhibited. Moreover, the growth of bacterial cell membrane permeability and a significantly increased content of ROS were observed, indicating that the exposure caused serious oxidative stress and homeostasis disorders. Additionally, modifications in the phospholipid profile were observed in response to the presence of sublethal concentrations of the chemicals. These results prove that the environmental threat posed by MIT and PCMX must be carefully monitored, especially as their use in PCPs is still growing.

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“…(2016) qualified biofilms as ‘the microbial skin’ of landscapes: a structuring, living and dynamic ecological boundary where transition, contact, exchange but also separation of biotic or abiotic matter occur. The soil biomass is dominated by bacteria and fungi mostly in the form of biofilms (Cai et al., 2019; Flemming & Wuertz, 2019) and this soil microbiome is critical for ecosystem functioning: it provides structure and stabilisation to friable soils and maintains soil fertility by rendering key nutrients available to plants and other soil organisms (Ahmad et al., 2017; Fierer, 2017). Freshwater microbiomes are constantly inoculated by soil micro‐organisms via surface runoffs or subsurface flows (Figure 4; Battin et al., 2016).…”

Section: Importance Of Biofilms Growing On Non‐biological Interfacesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The significance of biofilms to human, animal, plant and ecosystem health

et al. 2021

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Biofilms are matrix‐enclosed communities that represent the most dominant and active mode of microbial life on Earth. Because biofilms are inherently more productive than any equivalent planktonic community, they are of great relevance to all environments they inhabit. However, their existence and importance are still poorly known by the general public, conservation practitioners and environmental policymakers. Most micro‐organisms of multicellular organisms (including humans, animals and plants) occur in the form of true biofilms or biofilm‐like structures that play vital roles in their development, physiology and immunity. Conversely, some biofilms can have a negative effect on host health. Biofilms growing on non‐biological surfaces are essential components of many terrestrial and marine ecosystems: they form the basis of food webs and ensure nutrient cycling and bioremediation in natural systems. However, environmental biofilms can promote the persistence of human pathogens, produce harmful toxins, foul and corrode surfaces in natural and man‐made settings; all of which can have significant health and economic implications. There is a knowledge gap about the roles of biofilms in the epidemiology of wildlife emerging infectious diseases, yet these pose a major threat to public health, biodiversity and sustainability. The drivers of global environmental change all affect biofilm structure and functions. The consequences for host and ecosystem health are, however, poorly understood. While the concept of a healthy microbiome (as opposed to dysbiosis) is emerging in medicine and conservation biology, the concept of a healthy biofilm remains to be defined in environmental sciences. Here, we use an integrative approach to (a) review current knowledge on the roles of biofilms growing on biological and non‐biological interfaces for the health of multicellular organisms and ecosystems, and (b) provide future research directions to address identified knowledge gaps. Giving the biofilm life‐form its full importance will help understand the effects of global environmental change on these communities and, in turn, on human, animal, plant and ecosystem health.

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Biofilms: An Overview of Their Significance in Plant and Soil Health

Cited by 17 publications

References 135 publications

Could Bacillus biofilms enhance the effectivity of biocontrol strategies in the phyllosphere?

Could Bacillus biofilms enhance the effectivity of biocontrol strategies in the phyllosphere?

In vitro study of the ecotoxicological risk of methylisothiazolinone and chloroxylenol towards soil bacteria

The significance of biofilms to human, animal, plant and ecosystem health

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