title: Living on a surface: swarming and biofilm formation.
abstract: Swarming is the fastest known bacterial mode of surface translocation and enables the rapid colonization of a nutrient-rich environment and host tissues. This complex multicellular behavior requires the integration of chemical and physical signals, which leads to the physiological and morphological differentiation of the bacteria into swarmer cells. Here, we provide a review of recent advances in the study of the regulatory pathways that lead to swarming behavior of different model bacteria. It has now become clear that many of these pathways also affect the formation of biofilms, surface-attached bacterial colonies. Decision-making between rapidly colonizing a surface and biofilm formation is central to bacterial survival among competitors. In the second part of this article, we review recent developments in the understanding of the transition between motile and sessile lifestyles of bacteria.
authors.affiliation: Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 20, B-3001 Heverlee, Belgium.
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Verstraeten
authors.forename: Kristien
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Braeken
authors.forename: Bachaspatimayum
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Debkumari
authors.forename: Maarten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fauvart
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fransaer
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vermant
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Michiels
mesh_terms: D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D002633:Chemotaxis; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction