eDNA Provides a Scaffold for Autoaggregation of IB. subtilis/I in Bacterioplankton Suspension

The self-binding of bacterial cells, or autoaggregation, is, together with surface colonization, one of the first steps in the formation of a mature biofilm. In this work, the autoaggregation of B. subtilis in dilute bacterial suspensions was studied. The dynamics of cell lysis, eDNA release, and ba...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inMicroorganisms (Basel) Vol. 11; no. 2
Main Authors Dogsa, Iztok, Kostanjsek, Rok, Stopar, David
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published MDPI AG 01.01.2023
Subjects
Bacillus subtilis
Cell death
Genetic aspects
Microbial aggregation
Physiological aspects
Slovenia
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:The self-binding of bacterial cells, or autoaggregation, is, together with surface colonization, one of the first steps in the formation of a mature biofilm. In this work, the autoaggregation of B. subtilis in dilute bacterial suspensions was studied. The dynamics of cell lysis, eDNA release, and bacterial autoaggregate assembly were determined and related to the spatial autocorrelation of bacterial cells in dilute planktonic bacterial suspensions. The non-random distribution of cells was associated with an eDNA network, which stabilized the initial bacterial cell-cell aggregates. Upon the addition of DNase I, the aggregates were dispersed. The release of eDNA during cell lysis allows for the entrapment of bacterial drifters at a radius several times the size of the dying bacteria. The size of bacterial aggregates increased from 2 to about 100 μm in diameter in dilute bacterial suspensions. The results suggest that B. subtilis cells form previously unnoticed continuum of autoaggregate structures during planktonic growth.
ISSN:2076-2607
2076-2607
DOI:10.3390/microorganisms11020332