The Involvement of Cell-to-Cell Signals in the Development of a Bacterial Biofilm

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 280; no. 5361; pp. 295 - 298
• Main Authors: Davies, David G., Parsek, Matthew R., Pearson, James P., Iglewski, Barbara H., Costerton, J. W., Greenberg, E. P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Society for the Advancement of Science 10.04.1998; American Association for the Advancement of Science; The American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Subjects: 4-Butyrolactone - analogs & derivatives; 4-Butyrolactone - metabolism; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Bacteria; Bacterial Adhesion - drug effects; Bacterial Proteins - genetics; Bacterial Proteins - metabolism; Bacteriology; Behavior; Biofilms; Biofilms - drug effects; Biofilms - growth & development; Biological and medical sciences; Bioreactors; Cellular signal transduction; Community Relations; Developmental biology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genes; Glycocalyx; Growth, nutrition, cell differenciation; Homoserine - analogs & derivatives; Homoserine - metabolism; Hypotheses; Individualized Instruction; Ligases; Microbial ecology; Microbiology; Microscopy; Molecules; Mutation; Observations; Polysaccharides, Bacterial - analysis; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Pseudomonas aeruginosa - drug effects; Pseudomonas aeruginosa - genetics; Pseudomonas aeruginosa - physiology; Social Behavior; Sodium; Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate - pharmacology; Space life sciences; Transcription Factors - genetics; Transcription Factors - metabolism; Uronic acids; Various environments (extraatmospheric space, air, water); Virulence; Pseudomonadales; Signal transduction; Microorganism interrelationships; Intraspecific communication; Biofilm; Bacteria; Pseudomonadaceae; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Differentiation; Microbial community
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.280.5361.295

Bacteria in nature often exist as sessile communities called biofilms. These communities develop structures that are morphologically and physiologically differentiated from free-living bacteria. A cell-to-cell signal is involved in the development of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms. A specific signaling mutant, a/as/ mutant, forms flat, undifferentiated biofilms that unlike wild-type biofilms are sensitive to the biocide sodium dodecyl sulfate. Mutant biofilms appeared normal when grown in the presence of a synthetic signal molecule. The involvement of an intercellular signal molecule in the development of P aeruginosa biofilms suggests possible targets to control biofilm growth on catheters, in cystic fibrosis, and in other environments where P. aeruginosa biofilms are a persistent problem.