Biofilm formation

Biofilms are the result of the multicellular lifestyle of B. subtilis. They are characterized by the formation of a matrix polysaccharide and an amyloid-like protein, TasA. Correction of sfp, epsC, swrAA, and degQ as well as introduction of rapP from a plasmid present in NCIB3610 results in biofilm formation in B. subtilis 168 PubMed.

Parent categories	4. Lifestyles 4.1. Exponential and early post-exponential lifestyles
Neighbouring categories	4.1.1. Motility and chemotaxis 4.1.2. Biofilm formation 4.1.3. Genetic competence
Related categories	SinR regulon
Overview on the categories (Excel file) All genes and their categories (Excel file)

Labs working on biofilm formation

• Daniel Kearns
• Roberto Kolter
• Oscar Kuipers
• Beth Lazazzera
• Richard Losick
• Nicola Stanley-Wall
• Jörg Stülke

Key genes and operons involved in biofilm formation

• matrix polysaccharide synthesis:
  • epsA-epsB-epsC-epsD-epsE-epsF-epsG-epsH-epsI-epsJ-epsK-epsL-epsM-epsN-epsO
  • galE
• amyloid protein synthesis, secretion and assembly
  • tapA-sipW-tasA
• repellent surface layer
  • bslA
• regulation
  • SlrR
  • SlrA
  • SinR
  • SinI
  • KinC
  • KinD
  • Spo0A
  • PtkA
  • TkmA
  • PtpZ
  • DegU
  • DegQ
  • YmdB
  • FtsH
• biofilm disassembly (D-amino acids produced by RacX and YlmE and norspermidine produced by GabT and YaaO act together in preventing biofilm formation and triggering biofilm disassembly PubMed)
  • RacX
  • YlmE
  • GabT
  • YaaO
• other proteins required for biofilm formation
  • AmpS
  • FloT
  • LuxS
  • RemA
  • RemB
  • Rny
  • Sfp/1
  • Sfp/2
  • SpeA
  • SwrAA
  • YisP
  • YlbF
  • YmcA
  • YvcA
  • YwcC
  • YxaB

Important original publications

Additional publications: PubMed

James N Wilking, Vasily Zaburdaev, Michael De Volder, Richard Losick, Michael P Brenner, David A Weitz
Liquid transport facilitated by channels in Bacillus subtilis biofilms.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A: 2013, 110(3);848-52
[PubMed:23271809] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (I p)

Munehiro Asally, Mark Kittisopikul, Pau Rué, Yingjie Du, Zhenxing Hu, Tolga Çağatay, Andra B Robinson, Hongbing Lu, Jordi Garcia-Ojalvo, Gürol M Süel
Localized cell death focuses mechanical forces during 3D patterning in a biofilm.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A: 2012, 109(46);18891-6
[PubMed:23012477] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (I p)

Ilana Kolodkin-Gal, Shugeng Cao, Liraz Chai, Thomas Böttcher, Roberto Kolter, Jon Clardy, Richard Losick
A self-produced trigger for biofilm disassembly that targets exopolysaccharide.
Cell: 2012, 149(3);684-92
[PubMed:22541437] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (I p)

Juan C Garcia-Betancur, Ana Yepes, Johannes Schneider, Daniel Lopez
Single-cell analysis of Bacillus subtilis biofilms using fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry.
J Vis Exp: 2012, (60);
[PubMed:22371091] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (I e)

Agnese Seminara, Thomas E Angelini, James N Wilking, Hera Vlamakis, Senan Ebrahim, Roberto Kolter, David A Weitz, Michael P Brenner
Osmotic spreading of Bacillus subtilis biofilms driven by an extracellular matrix.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A: 2012, 109(4);1116-21
[PubMed:22232655] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (I p)

Anna L McLoon, Sarah B Guttenplan, Daniel B Kearns, Roberto Kolter, Richard Losick
Tracing the domestication of a biofilm-forming bacterium.
J Bacteriol: 2011, 193(8);2027-34
[PubMed:21278284] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (I p)

Arnaud Bridier, Dominique Le Coq, Florence Dubois-Brissonnet, Vincent Thomas, Stéphane Aymerich, Romain Briandet
The spatial architecture of Bacillus subtilis biofilms deciphered using a surface-associated model and in situ imaging.
PLoS One: 2011, 6(1);e16177
[PubMed:21267464] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (I e)

Nicola R Stanley, Beth A Lazazzera
Defining the genetic differences between wild and domestic strains of Bacillus subtilis that affect poly-gamma-dl-glutamic acid production and biofilm formation.
Mol Microbiol: 2005, 57(4);1143-58
[PubMed:16091050] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (P p)

Key reviews

Additional reviews: PubMed