Fig. 1: Plasmid maintenance in biofilms over time.
From: Biofilms can act as plasmid reserves in the absence of plasmid specific selection
a Schematic prediction of plasmid loss in biofilm. Dividing cells can lead to segregational plasmid loss-making biofilms act as a reserve for plasmids because of the presence of metabolically inactive cells. However, dispersal from the biofilm (WT) will influence the stability of the plasmid in the population over time. Here, we used an isogenic mutant MRB1, incapable of biofilm dispersal, to examine the influence of biofilm dynamics on plasmid maintenance. b Plasmid loss over time in biofilms. Plasmid loss in biofilm cultures of a dispersing (WT) and non-dispersing (MRB1) variant of P. putida monitored for 4 days. Error bars are standard error of the mean.
