Article

The contribution of cell-cell signaling and motility to bacterial biofilm formation.

MRS bulletin / Materials Research Society (impact factor: 4.95). 05/2011; 36(5):367-373. DOI:10.1557/mrs.2011.67 pp.367-373
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT Many bacteria grow attached to a surface as biofilms. Several factors dictate biofilm formation, including responses by the colonizing bacteria to their environment. Here we review how bacteria use cell-cell signaling (also called quorum sensing) and motility during biofilm formation. Specifically, we describe quorum sensing and surface motility exhibited by the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a ubiquitous environmental organism that acts as an opportunistic human pathogen in immunocompromised individuals. P. aeruginosa uses acyl-homoserine lactone signals during quorum sensing to synchronize gene expression important to the production of polysaccharides, rhamnolipid, and other virulence factors. Surface motility affects the assembly and architecture of biofilms, and some aspects of motility are also influenced by quorum sensing. While some genes and their function are specific to P. aeruginosa, many aspects of biofilm development can be used as a model system to understand how bacteria differentially colonize surfaces.

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Keywords

acyl-homoserine lactone signals
 
bacteria
 
bacteria differentially colonize surfaces
 
bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa
 
biofilm formation
 
biofilms
 
colonizing bacteria
 
genes
 
immunocompromised individuals
 
model system
 
opportunistic human pathogen
 
polysaccharides
 
quorum
 
Surface motility
 
surface motility exhibited
 
synchronize gene expression
 
ubiquitous environmental organism