2019 journal article

A dual-species biofilm with emergent mechanical and protective properties

Journal of Bacteriology.

Karen Daniels

author keywords: Bacillus subtilis; Pantoea agglomerans; antibiotic stress; biofilm; cell-cell interactions; coculture; dual-species; rheology; wrinkles
MeSH headings : Bacillus subtilis / metabolism; Bacterial Proteins / metabolism; Biofilms / growth & development; Extracellular Matrix / metabolism; Extracellular Matrix / physiology; Pantoea / metabolism
Source: ORCID
Added: August 13, 2019

In the environment, many microbes form biofilms. However, the interspecies interactions underlying bacterial coexistence within these biofilms remain understudied. Here, we mimic environmentally relevant biofilms by studying a dual-species biofilm formed between Bacillus subtilis and Pantoea agglomerans and subjecting the coculture to chemical and physical stressors that it may experience in the natural world. We determined that both bacteria contribute structural elements to the coculture, which is reflected in its overall viscoelastic behavior. Existence within the coculture can be either beneficial or detrimental depending on the context. Many of the features and determinants of the coculture biofilm appear distinct from those identified in monoculture biofilm studies, highlighting the importance of characterizing multispecies consortia to understand naturally occurring bacterial interactions.