title: Biofilm development and enhanced stress resistance of a model, mixed-species community biofilm.
abstract: Most studies of biofilm biology have taken a reductionist approach, where single-species biofilms have been extensively investigated. However, biofilms in nature mostly comprise multiple species, where interspecies interactions can shape the development, structure and function of these communities differently from biofilm populations. Hence, a reproducible mixed-species biofilm comprising Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas protegens and Klebsiella pneumoniae was adapted to study how interspecies interactions affect biofilm development, structure and stress responses. Each species was fluorescently tagged to determine its abundance and spatial localization within the biofilm. The mixed-species biofilm exhibited distinct structures that were not observed in comparable single-species biofilms. In addition, development of the mixed-species biofilm was delayed 1-2 days compared with the single-species biofilms. Composition and spatial organization of the mixed-species biofilm also changed along the flow cell channel, where nutrient conditions and growth rate of each species could have a part in community assembly. Intriguingly, the mixed-species biofilm was more resistant to the antimicrobials sodium dodecyl sulfate and tobramycin than the single-species biofilms. Crucially, such community level resilience was found to be a protection offered by the resistant species to the whole community rather than selection for the resistant species. In contrast, community-level resilience was not observed for mixed-species planktonic cultures. These findings suggest that community-level interactions, such as sharing of public goods, are unique to the structured biofilm community, where the members are closely associated with each other.
authors.affiliation: 1] Singapore Centre on Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore [2] School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
authors.forename: Kai Wei Kelvin
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Singapore Centre on Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
authors.forename: Saravanan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Periasamy
authors.affiliation: 1] Singapore Centre on Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore [2] School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
authors.forename: Manisha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mukherjee
authors.affiliation: 1] Singapore Centre on Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore [2] Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: 1] Singapore Centre on Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore [2] School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore [3] Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation and School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Staffan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kjelleberg
authors.affiliation: 1] Singapore Centre on Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore [2] School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore [3] Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation and School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Scott A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Rice
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements / Q000235:genetics; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D007711:Klebsiella pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D056265:Microbial Interactions / Q000502:physiology*; D011549:Pseudomonas / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate / Q000494:pharmacology; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D014031:Tobramycin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate; D014031:Tobramycin