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Do you know what the scientific secrets behind the formation of biofilms are?
Biofilms are ubiquitous in the microscopic world of our daily lives. From your teeth to every corner of the environment and even in your intestines, these microbial communities are hidden and powerful, forming an extremely complex life mechanism. This microbial community includes not only bacteria, but also archaea, fungi and other multicellular organisms, which together form a unique ecosystem. Biofilm is known as the "city of microorganisms". What kind of scientific mysteries are hidden behind it?
Biofilm formation begins when a free-swimming microorganism attaches to a surface and subsequently establishes a diverse microbial community.
The biofilm formation process consists of five major stages. These microorganisms first attach to a surface through spontaneous electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions and then utilize cellular attachment structures, such as pili, to allow them to colonize more permanently. As biofilms develop, these microorganisms not only interact with their environment through an external polymer matrix, but also develop complex social structures and metabolic functions. At the core of these biofilms is the extracellular polymeric substance (EPS), which is a fusion of substances secreted by a variety of microorganisms and is actually the cornerstone of the biofilm.
Extracellular polymers are the main structural components of biological membranes and can promote communication between organisms and the exchange of genes.
The formation of these microbial communities is not just a random attachment. Scientists have found that a variety of factors lead to biofilm formation, including cellular recognition of specific surface attachment sites, nutrient signals, and possibly responses triggered by antibiotic exposure. These factors together promote the establishment of the biofilm, making it a microenvironment of an organism, providing protection and promoting cooperation between cells.
Biofilms offer many possibilities for biological interactions, forming a special social structure that is very different from the existence of free-swimming planktonic cells.
Different from cells floating freely in water, microbial cells in biofilms exhibit distinctly different physiological characteristics. The complexity of its structure makes biofilms highly resistant to external threats such as antibiotics and desiccation conditions. Studies have shown that bacteria within certain biofilms can become up to five thousand times more resistant to antibiotics.
However, the development of biofilms can also affect the ecological balance of their biological communities, where microorganisms can not only share resources, but also cooperate metabolically and even exchange genes between species. The "quorum sensing" mechanism involved - that is, the microorganisms interact and coordinate their actions through specific chemicals - further enhances the health and stability of the biofilm.
Quorum sensing is the process by which microorganisms interact with each other through specific chemical signals, which can ensure the harmonious operation of microbial communities.
As a biofilm develops, its specific shape and size will continue to change and become a complete system. Research shows that biofilm dispersion is also an important stage in this life cycle. When cells are forced to leave a biofilm, the physiological characteristics of these cells will change and sometimes imply recolonization of new surfaces. But this process is not as simple as we think. The microorganisms inside the biofilm release enzymes to degrade the extracellular polymers, which can promote the diffusion of the biofilm and the transfer of information.
The key to understanding the scientific mysteries of biofilms remains how they adapt to their surroundings and compete and cooperate with other organisms. The widespread presence of biofilms means that they play a key role in natural ecosystems, where the dynamics of cooperation and competition make the social structure of microorganisms complex and diverse.
As the environment changes, these biofilms will adapt, forming new structures and even affecting the function of the ecosystem in which they are located. So, can these microscopic social structures inspire us to have a deeper understanding of cooperation and competition in nature?
