Biofilm Dynamics and Gene Interaction in Microbial Communities
Summary
Biofilms are structured assemblies of microorganisms encased within a self-produced matrix of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), adhering to natural or artificial surfaces. Their development proceeds through sequential stages of initial attachment, microcolony formation, maturation and dispersal. Within these stages, intercellular signalling pathways—most notably quorum sensing—coordinate group behaviour, regulate EPS synthesis and modulate community resilience to environmental stresses. Simultaneously, horizontal gene transfer facilitates the rapid spread of adaptive traits, such as antimicrobial resistance and metabolic versatility, shaping community composition and function. Advances in imaging, spectroscopy and omics approaches have revealed that biofilm architecture is highly heterogeneous at both chemical and genetic levels, fostering distinct micro-niches with specialised metabolic activities. A deeper understanding of the interplay between physical structure, gene regulation and environmental factors underpins applications ranging from infection control and industrial fouling mitigation to bioremediation and wastewater treatment. Emerging studies emphasise how targeted disruption of key regulatory circuits or modulation of matrix properties can steer biofilm behaviour for beneficial ends.
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Biofilm Dynamics and Gene Interaction in Microbial Communities publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in biofilm dynamics and gene interaction in microbial communities across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Biofilm: A community of microorganisms attached to a surface and embedded in a self-secreted matrix of polymers.
Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS): A complex mixture of polysaccharides, proteins, lipids and nucleic acids that forms the structural scaffold of a biofilm.
Quorum sensing: A cell-to-cell communication mechanism by which bacteria coordinate gene expression in response to population density.
Horizontal gene transfer: The non-heritage transfer of genetic material between organisms, enabling rapid acquisition of new traits within microbial communities.
References
- Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and infrared (IR) measurements for studying biofilm formation on common plastic litter polymer (LDPE and PET) surfaces in three different laboratory aquatic environments. Environmental Science and Pollution Research (2023).
- Photosynthetic signatures of microbial colonies covering submerged hard surfaces as novel trophic status indicators: Baltic Sea studies. Oceanologia (2023).
- Micron-Scale Biogeography of Seawater Biofilm Colonies at Submersed Solid Substrata Affected by Organic Matter and Microbiome Transformation in the Baltic Sea. Materials (2022).
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