Exopolymeric substances (EPS) from Bacillus subtilis : polymers and genes encoding their synthesis

Marvasi, Massimiliano; Visscher, Pieter T.; Martinez, Lilliam Casillas

doi:10.1111/j.1574-6968.2010.02085.x

Cited by 244 publications

(209 citation statements)

References 82 publications

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“…Matrix-producing cells express the epsA-O and tapA-sipW-tasA operons, which results in the production of, respectively, extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) and the structural protein TasA (108)(109)(110). TasA assembles into amyloid-like fibers that attach to cell walls via an accessory protein, TapA (111,112).…”

Section: B Subtilis Differentiationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Division of Labor in Biofilms: the Ecology of Cell Differentiation

2015

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The dense aggregation of cells on a surface, as seen in biofilms, inevitably results in both environmental and cellular heterogeneity. For example, nutrient gradients can trigger cells to differentiate into various phenotypic states. Not only do cells adapt physiologically to the local environmental conditions, but they also differentiate into cell types that interact with each other. This allows for task differentiation and, hence, the division of labor. In this article, we focus on cell differentiation and the division of labor in three bacterial species: Myxococcus xanthus, Bacillus subtilis , and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . During biofilm formation each of these species differentiates into distinct cell types, in some cases leading to cooperative interactions. The division of labor and the cooperative interactions between cell types are assumed to yield an emergent ecological benefit. Yet in most cases the ecological benefits have yet to be elucidated. A notable exception is M. xanthus , in which cell differentiation within fruiting bodies facilitates the dispersal of spores. We argue that the ecological benefits of the division of labor might best be understood when we consider the dynamic nature of both biofilm formation and degradation.

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Section: B Subtilis Differentiationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Division of Labor in Biofilms: the Ecology of Cell Differentiation

2015

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“…Growth in a biofilm or aggregate brings to microorganisms many advantages. Next to the protection from inhibitors or predators, it will also enhance cooperation among members of the community (Marvasi et al 2010). For example, AOB provide substrate for nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB), and immediate oxidation of nitrite by NOB prevents its accumulation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analysis of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria dominating in lab-scale bioreactors with high ammonium bicarbonate loading

Vejmelková

Sorokin

Abbas

et al. 2011

Appl Microbiol Biotechnol

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The ammonia-oxidizing bacterial community (AOB) was investigated in two types of laboratory-scale bioreactors performing partial oxidation of ammonia to nitrite or nitrate at high (80 mM) to extremely high (428 mM) concentrations of ammonium bicarbonate. At all conditions, the dominant AOB was affiliated to the Nitrosomonas europaea lineage as was determined by fluorescence in situ hybridization and polymerase chain reaction in combination with denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. Molecular analysis of the mixed populations, based on the 16S rRNA and cbbL genes, demonstrated the presence of two different phylotypes of Nitrosomonas, while microbiological analysis produced a single phylotype, represented by three different morphotypes. One of the most striking features of the AOB populations encountered in the bioreactors was the domination of highly aggregated obligate microaerophilic Nitrosomonas, with unusual cellular and colony morphology, commonly observed in nitrifying bioreactors but rarely investigated by cultural methods. The latter is probably not an adaptation to stressful conditions created by high ammonia or nitrite concentrations, but oxygen seems to be a stressful factor in these bioreactors.

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“…A primary characteristic of biofilm formation is the production of exopolymeric substances by some cells. These substances mostly consists of exopolysaccharides (EPS), a few specific proteins, and nucleic acids (3)(4)(5), but their exact composition depends on the strain of the bacterium and the type of nutrients present in the culture medium (6,7). When studied in a laboratory, wild-type strains of Bacillus subtilis are known to produce floating pellicles of rich and complex multiscale architectures (8,9).…”

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confidence: 99%

Elasticity and wrinkled morphology of Bacillus subtilis pellicles

Trejo

Douarche

Bailleux

et al. 2013

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

132

127

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Wrinkled morphology is a distinctive phenotype observed in mature biofilms produced by a great number of bacteria. Here we study the formation of macroscopic structures (wrinkles and folds) observed during the maturation of Bacillus subtilis pellicles in relation to their mechanical response. We show how the mechanical buckling instability can explain their formation. By performing simple tests, we highlight the role of confining geometry and growth in determining the symmetry of wrinkles. We also experimentally demonstrate that the pellicles are soft elastic materials for small deformations induced by a tensile device. The wrinkled structures are then described by using the equations of elastic plates, which include the growth process as a simple parameter representing biomass production. This growth controls buckling instability, which triggers the formation of wrinkles. We also describe how the structure of ripples is modified when capillary effects are dominant. Finally, the experiments performed on a mutant strain indicate that the presence of an extracellular matrix is required to maintain a connective and elastic pellicle.biofilm elasticity | biofilm growth | wrinkles formation B acterial biofilms most often refer to communities that self-assemble into a cohesive extracellular matrix on solid surfaces or as pellicles floating on top of liquids. Bacteria self-organize in a collective behavior, giving a large-scale coherence to the system. Biofilms thus represent a protected life mode allowing bacteria to survive in hostile environments and from where they can disperse to colonize new niches (1, 2). A primary characteristic of biofilm formation is the production of exopolymeric substances by some cells. These substances mostly consists of exopolysaccharides (EPS), a few specific proteins, and nucleic acids (3-5), but their exact composition depends on the strain of the bacterium and the type of nutrients present in the culture medium (6, 7). When studied in a laboratory, wild-type strains of Bacillus subtilis are known to produce floating pellicles of rich and complex multiscale architectures (8, 9). The vertical structures range from the local 50-μm-scale "fruiting bodies" (10) to the extended macroscopic patterns illustrated in Fig. 1. As recently suggested in ref. 11, multiscale roughness could play a role in increasing the defense capability of B. subtilis against vapor and liquid antimicrobial agents.This study centers on the physical forces acting on biofilm and determining their morphologies at the macroscopic scale. To proceed, we restrict our experimental approach to the simplified case where macroscopic pellicles stand on rich static media. We primarily focus on the pellicles formed by the wild-type strain NCIB 3610, but present some features measured on another wildtype strain DV1 to obtain a more complete picture of existing morphologies. Of course the phenotypes are even more complex in nature given the possible multistrain and species coassembly and the diversity of settings and environments.T...

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Exopolymeric substances (EPS) from Bacillus subtilis : polymers and genes encoding their synthesis

Cited by 244 publications

References 82 publications

Division of Labor in Biofilms: the Ecology of Cell Differentiation

Division of Labor in Biofilms: the Ecology of Cell Differentiation

Analysis of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria dominating in lab-scale bioreactors with high ammonium bicarbonate loading

Elasticity and wrinkled morphology of Bacillus subtilis pellicles

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