title: Environmental factors that shape biofilm formation.
abstract: Cells respond to the environment and alter gene expression. Recent studies have revealed the social aspects of bacterial life, such as biofilm formation. Biofilm formation is largely affected by the environment, and the mechanisms by which the gene expression of individual cells affects biofilm development have attracted interest. Environmental factors determine the cell's decision to form or leave a biofilm. In addition, the biofilm structure largely depends on the environment, implying that biofilms are shaped to adapt to local conditions. Second messengers such as cAMP and c-di-GMP are key factors that link environmental factors with gene regulation. Cell-to-cell communication is also an important factor in shaping the biofilm. In this short review, we will introduce the basics of biofilm formation and further discuss environmental factors that shape biofilm formation. Finally, the state-of-the-art tools that allow us investigate biofilms under various conditions are discussed.
authors.affiliation: a Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences , University of Tsukuba , Tsukuba , Japan.
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toyofuku
authors.affiliation: a Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences , University of Tsukuba , Tsukuba , Japan.
authors.forename: Tomohiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Inaba
authors.affiliation: a Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences , University of Tsukuba , Tsukuba , Japan.
authors.forename: Tatsunori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kiyokawa
authors.affiliation: a Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences , University of Tsukuba , Tsukuba , Japan.
authors.forename: Nozomu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Obana
authors.affiliation: b Departoment of Civil and Environmental Engineering , Massachusetts Institute of Technology , Cambridge , USA.
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yawata
authors.affiliation: a Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences , University of Tsukuba , Tsukuba , Japan.
authors.forename: Nobuhiko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nomura
mesh_terms: D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D003016:Clostridium perfringens / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D059647:Gene-Environment Interaction; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D053038:Quorum Sensing / Q000235:genetics; D015290:Second Messenger Systems / Q000235:genetics*; D013045:Species Specificity; D014734:Vibrio cholerae / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C062025:bis(3',5')-cyclic diguanylic acid; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D006152:Cyclic GMP
keywords: biofilm; environment; quorum sensing