title: Dynamics of development and dispersal in sessile microbial communities: examples from Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pseudomonas putida model biofilms.
abstract: Surface-associated microbial communities in many cases display dynamic developmental patterns. Model biofilms formed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pseudomonas putida in laboratory flow-chamber setups represent examples of such behaviour. Dependent on the experimental conditions the bacteria in these model biofilms develop characteristic multicellular structures through a series of distinct steps where cellular migration plays an important role. Despite the appearance of these characteristic developmental patterns in the model biofilms the available evidence suggest that the biofilm forming organisms do not possess comprehensive genetic programs for biofilm development. Instead the bacteria appear to have evolved a number of different mechanisms to optimize surface colonization, of which they express a subset in response to the prevailing environmental conditions. These mechanisms include the ability to regulate cellular adhesiveness and migration in response to micro-environmental signals including those secreted by the bacteria themselves.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Biomedical Microbiology, BioCentrum-DTU, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark.
authors.forename: Mikkel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Klausen
authors.forename: Morten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gjermansen
authors.forename: Jan-Ulrich
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Kreft
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tolker-Nielsen
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000378:metabolism; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D016958:Pseudomonas putida / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D000097573:Red Fluorescent Protein
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D000097573:Red Fluorescent Protein