New Research on Bacteria Biofilms

Bacterial biofilms, which are groups of bacteria, form concentric cell circles that are made up of various biological characteristics. It was thought up until this point that they had a structure only seen in plants and animals.

Gürol Süel and his team have revealed that bacterial biofilms are more complicated than previously imagined. When they absorb the nutrients in their surroundings, they create circular patterns, but when the nutrient stores deplete, the cells stop operating in what is understood as a “clock and wavefront.”

Süel and his team conducted research that contradicted their initial understanding of bacteria biofilms: “If we just think of [biofilms] as globs of bacterial cells, even if they’re from one species, we’re mistaken. They’re highly organised, and they’re organised in a very non-trivial way. This organisation seems to be reminiscent of what vertebrates and plants did during development, so there must be a connection there.”

Although the study was limited to examining the biofilms patterns, Süel believes that the cell formation might show the biofilm changing the cells to survive changes to the environment.

Biofilms have many uses including filtering water and promoting microbiologically induced corrosion. They are also responsible for many clinical infections. Increasing and developing our knowledge on their structure may influence how they are utilised and controlled in the future.

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