Journal ArticleDOI
Biofilms as complex fluids
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TLDR
The mechanics of well-defined soft materials can provide insight into the mechanics of biofilms and, in particular, the viscoelasticity, which generates forces within the biofilm that are relevant for biofilm spreading and survival.Abstract:
Bacterial biofilms are interface-associated colonies of bacteria embedded in an extracellular matrix that is composed primarily of polymers and proteins. They can be viewed in the context of soft matter physics: the rigid bacteria are analogous to colloids, and the extracellular matrix is a cross-linked polymer gel. This perspective is beneficial for understanding the structure, mechanics, and dynamics of the biofilm. Bacteria regulate the water content of the biofilm by controlling the composition of the extracellular matrix, and thereby controlling the mechanical properties. The mechanics of well-defined soft materials can provide insight into the mechanics of biofilms and, in particular, the viscoelasticity. Furthermore, spatial heterogeneities in gene expression create heterogeneities in polymer and surfactant production. The resulting concentration gradients generate forces within the biofilm that are relevant for biofilm spreading and survival.read more
Citations
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Liquid-infused structured surfaces with exceptional anti-biofouling performance
TL;DR: It is reported that Slippery Liquid-Infused Porous Surfaces (SLIPS) prevent 99.6% of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm attachment over a 7-d period, and it is shown that SLIPS-based antibiofilm surfaces are stable in submerged, extreme pH, salinity, and UV environments.
Journal ArticleDOI
The Mechanical World of Bacteria
Alexandre Persat,Carey D. Nadell,Min-Young Kim,François Ingremeau,Albert Siryaporn,Knut Drescher,Ned S. Wingreen,Bonnie L. Bassler,Zemer Gitai,Howard A. Stone +9 more
TL;DR: The effects of mechanics on bacterial behaviors on surfaces at multiple length scales are highlighted, from single bacteria to the development of multicellular bacterial communities such as biofilms.
Journal ArticleDOI
Bacterial hydrodynamics
TL;DR: In this article, the authors review the biomechanics of bacterial motility and look ahead to future challenges using hydrodynamics as an organizing framework, including the ability of cells to reorient and search their surroundings to their interactions within mechanically and chemically-complex environments.
Journal ArticleDOI
Liquid transport facilitated by channels in Bacillus subtilis biofilms
James N. Wilking,Vasily Zaburdaev,Michael De Volder,Richard Losick,Michael Brenner,David A. Weitz +5 more
TL;DR: The presence of a remarkable network of well-defined channels that form in wild-type Bacillus subtilis biofilms are reported and they are observed to have high permeability to liquid flow and facilitate the transport of liquid through the biofilm.
Journal ArticleDOI
Osmotic spreading of Bacillus subtilis biofilms driven by an extracellular matrix
Agnese Seminara,Thomas E. Angelini,James N. Wilking,Hera Vlamakis,Senan Ebrahim,Roberto Kolter,David A. Weitz,Michael Brenner +7 more
TL;DR: It is proposed that the secretion of EPS drives surface motility by generating osmotic pressure gradients in the extracellular space, and a simple mathematical model based on the physics of polymer solutions shows quantitative agreement with experimental measurements of biofilm growth, thickening, and spreading.
References
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Journal ArticleDOI
Prokaryotes: The unseen majority
TL;DR: The number of prokaryotes and the total amount of their cellular carbon on earth are estimated to be 4-6 x 10(30) cells and 350-550 Pg of C (1 Pg = 10(15) g), respectively, which is 60-100% of the estimated total carbon in plants.
Book
The Structure and Rheology of Complex Fluids
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a comprehensive overview of the properties and properties of complex fluids and their properties in terms of physics, chemistry, physics theory, and physics of complex fluid properties.
Journal ArticleDOI
Biofilm Formation as Microbial Development
TL;DR: The results reviewed in this article indicate that the formation of biofilms serves as a new model system for the study of microbial development.