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Journal ArticleDOI

Marine biofilms on artificial surfaces: structure and dynamics

01 Nov 2013-Environmental Microbiology (Environ Microbiol)-Vol. 15, Iss: 11, pp 2879-2893
TL;DR: Overall, differences have been identified in species composition between biofilm and planktonic forms for both diatoms and bacteria at various exposure sites, and issues such as reproducibility, differences in exposure sites and biofilm composition may influence the outcomes.
Abstract: The search for new antifouling (AF) coatings that are environmentally benign has led to renewed interest in the ways that micro-organisms colonize substrates in the marine environment. This review covers recently published research on the global species composition and dynamics of marine biofilms, consisting mainly of bacteria and diatoms found on man-made surfaces including AF coatings. Marine biofilms directly interact with larger organisms (macrofoulers) during colonization processes; hence, recent literature on understanding the basis of the biofilm/macrofouling interactions is essential and will also be reviewed here. Overall, differences have been identified in species composition between biofilm and planktonic forms for both diatoms and bacteria at various exposure sites. In most studies, the underlying biofilm was found to induce larval and spore settlement of macrofoulers; however, issues such as reproducibility, differences in exposure sites and biofilm composition (natural multispecies vs. monospecific species) may influence the outcomes.
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Recent progress in the study of marine microbial surface colonization and biofilm development is synthesized and discussed and questions are posed for targeted investigation of surface-specific community-level microbial features to advance understanding ofsurface-associated microbial community ecology and the biogeochemical functions of these communities.
Abstract: SUMMARY Biotic and abiotic surfaces in marine waters are rapidly colonized by microorganisms. Surface colonization and subsequent biofilm formation and development provide numerous advantages to these organisms and support critical ecological and biogeochemical functions in the changing marine environment. Microbial surface association also contributes to deleterious effects such as biofouling, biocorrosion, and the persistence and transmission of harmful or pathogenic microorganisms and their genetic determinants. The processes and mechanisms of colonization as well as key players among the surface-associated microbiota have been studied for several decades. Accumulating evidence indicates that specific cell-surface, cell-cell, and interpopulation interactions shape the composition, structure, spatiotemporal dynamics, and functions of surface-associated microbial communities. Several key microbial processes and mechanisms, including (i) surface, population, and community sensing and signaling, (ii) intraspecies and interspecies communication and interaction, and (iii) the regulatory balance between cooperation and competition, have been identified as critical for the microbial surface association lifestyle. In this review, recent progress in the study of marine microbial surface colonization and biofilm development is synthesized and discussed. Major gaps in our knowledge remain. We pose questions for targeted investigation of surface-specific community-level microbial features, answers to which would advance our understanding of surface-associated microbial community ecology and the biogeochemical functions of these communities at levels from molecular mechanistic details through systems biological integration.

696 citations


Cites background or result from "Marine biofilms on artificial surfa..."

  • ...Recently, T6SSs have also been identified in some bacterial strains, genomes, and marine metagenomes of Bacteroidetes (733–736), an important group of secondary surface colonizers in marine environments (13, 17, 108, 130, 272, 574)....

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  • ...Microbial surface colonization and surface-associated metabolic activities also exert macroscale deleterious effects, including biofouling (13, 56), biocorrosion (18, 55, 69), and the persistence and transmission of harmful or pathogenic microorganisms and virulence determinants (23, 33, 70)....

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  • ..., the MRC), the Alteromonadaceae and Vibrionaceae groups of the Gammaproteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes (mainly the Flavobacteria group) are frequently surface associated (13, 272)....

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  • ...Marine surface-associated communities are composed of diverse microbial species (17, 108, 151, 153, 574, 611, 612), which usually form biofilms with specific structures and functions (13)....

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  • ...Surfaces submerged in marine water are rapidly colonized by microorganisms (13)....

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Journal ArticleDOI
03 Aug 2016-PLOS ONE
TL;DR: In this paper, a substrate recruitment experiment was established in which PET bottles were deployed for 5-6 weeks at three stations in the North Sea in three different seasons and the structure and composition of the PET-colonizing bacterial/archaeal and eukaryotic communities varied with season and station.
Abstract: Plastic debris pervades in our oceans and freshwater systems and the potential ecosystem-level impacts of this anthropogenic litter require urgent evaluation. Microbes readily colonize aquatic plastic debris and members of these biofilm communities are speculated to include pathogenic, toxic, invasive or plastic degrading-species. The influence of plastic-colonizing microorganisms on the fate of plastic debris is largely unknown, as is the role of plastic in selecting for unique microbial communities. This work aimed to characterize microbial biofilm communities colonizing single-use poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) drinking bottles, determine their plastic-specificity in contrast with seawater and glass-colonizing communities, and identify seasonal and geographical influences on the communities. A substrate recruitment experiment was established in which PET bottles were deployed for 5–6 weeks at three stations in the North Sea in three different seasons. The structure and composition of the PET-colonizing bacterial/archaeal and eukaryotic communities varied with season and station. Abundant PET-colonizing taxa belonged to the phylum Bacteroidetes (e.g. Flavobacteriaceae, Cryomorphaceae, Saprospiraceae—all known to degrade complex carbon substrates) and diatoms (e.g. Coscinodiscophytina, Bacillariophytina). The PET-colonizing microbial communities differed significantly from free-living communities, but from particle-associated (>3 μm) communities or those inhabiting glass substrates. These data suggest that microbial community assembly on plastics is driven by conventional marine biofilm processes, with the plastic surface serving as raft for attachment, rather than selecting for recruitment of plastic-specific microbial colonizers. A small proportion of taxa, notably, members of the Cryomorphaceae and Alcanivoraceae, were significantly discriminant of PET but not glass surfaces, conjuring the possibility that these groups may directly interact with the PET substrate. Future research is required to investigate microscale functional interactions at the plastic surface.

357 citations


Cites background from "Marine biofilms on artificial surfa..."

  • ...Numerous studies have found community structure to differ more between sites than between different substrates [36, 79, 101], supporting our conclusion that location is the greatest driver of community composition....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: First insights and research gaps related to microplastic-associated microbial biofilm communities are summarized and the question about the potential of plastic particles to serve as vectors for harmful microorganisms is raised.
Abstract: Environmental context Marine microbial communities, which play a crucial role in all biogeochemical processes in the oceans, could be affected by microplastic pollution. Research is necessary to understand the interactions between marine microbial communities and microplastics, and to explore the potential for microplastics to serve as transport systems for pathogenic microorganisms. Our review summarises first insights into these topics and discusses gaps in our current knowledge. Abstract The accumulation of plastic in the marine environment is a long-known issue, but the potential relevance of this pollution for the ocean has been recognised only recently. Within this context, microplastic fragments (<5mm) represent an emerging topic. Owing to their small size, they are readily ingested by marine wildlife and can accumulate in the food web, along with associated toxins and microorganisms colonising the plastic. We are starting to understand that plastic biofilms are diverse and are, comparably with non-plastic biofilms, driven by a complex network of influences, mainly spatial and seasonal factors, but also polymer type, texture and size of the substratum. Within this context, we should raise the question about the potential of plastic particles to serve as vectors for harmful microorganisms. The main focus of the review is the discussion of first insights and research gaps related to microplastic-associated microbial biofilm communities.

319 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This review explores six bacterial species as models of flagellar mechanosensing of surfaces to understand the current state of the authors' knowledge and the challenges that lie ahead.

304 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A review of current knowledge on plastic degradation and plastic-microorganism interactions in cold marine habitats is presented and the advantages of microorganisms isolated from this environment for eliminating plastic waste from ecosystems are highlighted.
Abstract: Synthetic plastics present in everyday materials constitute the main anthropogenic debris entering the Earth’s oceans. The oceans provide important and valuable resources such as food, energy, and water. They are also the main way of international trade and the main stabilizer of the climate. Hence, changes in the marine ecosystem caused by anthropogenic influences such as plastic pollution can have a dramatic impact on a global scale. Although the problem of plastics still remains unsolved, different ways are being considered to reduce their impact on the environment. One of them is to use microorganisms capable of degradation of plastic. A particularly interesting area is the application of microorganisms isolated from cold regions in view of their unique characteristics. Nevertheless, the interactions between plastic and microorganisms are still poorly known. Here, we present a review of current knowledge on plastic degradation and plastic-microorganism interactions in cold marine habitats. Moreover, we highlight the advantages of microorganisms isolated from this environment for eliminating plastic waste from ecosystems.

302 citations


Cites background from "Marine biofilms on artificial surfa..."

  • ...The abundance ratio between these organisms can vary; the cell ratio of bacteria/diatoms/flagellates on polymer plates from theWhite Sea was 640:4:1, whereas the proportion of other organisms was about 0.15% (Salta et al. 2013)....

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References
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Journal ArticleDOI
21 May 1999-Science
TL;DR: Improvements in understanding of the genetic and molecular basis of bacterial community behavior point to therapeutic targets that may provide a means for the control of biofilm infections.
Abstract: Bacteria that attach to surfaces aggregate in a hydrated polymeric matrix of their own synthesis to form biofilms. Formation of these sessile communities and their inherent resistance to antimicrobial agents are at the root of many persistent and chronic bacterial infections. Studies of biofilms have revealed differentiated, structured groups of cells with community properties. Recent advances in our understanding of the genetic and molecular basis of bacterial community behavior point to therapeutic targets that may provide a means for the control of biofilm infections.

11,162 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Phylogenetic analysis of the retrieved rRNA sequence of an uncultured microorganism reveals its closest culturable relatives and may, together with information on the physicochemical conditions of its natural habitat, facilitate more directed cultivation attempts.

9,017 citations


"Marine biofilms on artificial surfa..." refers background in this paper

  • ...These findings were based on culture-dependent methods that may not allow relevant conclusions on bacterial taxa dominance and diversity as it is estimated that less than 1 % of the bacterial species, in any ecosystem, are culturable (Amann et al., 1995)....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is evident that biofilm formation is an ancient and integral component of the prokaryotic life cycle, and is a key factor for survival in diverse environments.
Abstract: Biofilms--matrix-enclosed microbial accretions that adhere to biological or non-biological surfaces--represent a significant and incompletely understood mode of growth for bacteria. Biofilm formation appears early in the fossil record (approximately 3.25 billion years ago) and is common throughout a diverse range of organisms in both the Archaea and Bacteria lineages, including the 'living fossils' in the most deeply dividing branches of the phylogenetic tree. It is evident that biofilm formation is an ancient and integral component of the prokaryotic life cycle, and is a key factor for survival in diverse environments. Recent advances show that biofilms are structurally complex, dynamic systems with attributes of both primordial multicellular organisms and multifaceted ecosystems. Biofilm formation represents a protected mode of growth that allows cells to survive in hostile environments and also disperse to colonize new niches. The implications of these survival and propagative mechanisms in the context of both the natural environment and infectious diseases are discussed in this review.

6,170 citations


"Marine biofilms on artificial surfa..." refers background in this paper

  • ...Bacteria in biofilms are well known to exhibit enhanced resistance against antibiotics and many other types of stress compared with their planktonic forms (e.g. Costerton et al., 1999; Hall-Stoodley et al., 2004)....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This review focuses on the architectures of bacterial chemical communication networks; how chemical information is integrated, processed, and transduced to control gene expression; how intra- and interspecies cell-cell communication is accomplished; and the intriguing possibility of prokaryote-eukaryote cross-communication.
Abstract: Bacteria communicate with one another using chemical signal molecules. As in higher organisms, the information supplied by these molecules is critical for synchronizing the activities of large groups of cells. In bacteria, chemical communication involves producing, releasing, detecting, and responding to small hormone-like molecules termed autoinducers. This process, termed quorum sensing, allows bacteria to monitor the environment for other bacteria and to alter behavior on a population-wide scale in response to changes in the number and/or species present in a community. Most quorum-sensing-controlled processes are unproductive when undertaken by an individual bacterium acting alone but become beneficial when carried out simultaneously by a large number of cells. Thus, quorum sensing confuses the distinction between prokaryotes and eukaryotes because it enables bacteria to act as multicellular organisms. This review focuses on the architectures of bacterial chemical communication networks; how c...

3,360 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The recent explosion in the field of biofilm research has led to exciting progress in the development of new technologies for studying these communities, advanced the authors' understanding of the ecological significance of surface-attached bacteria, and provided new insights into the molecular genetic basis ofBiofilm development.
Abstract: Biofilms are complex communities of microorganisms attached to surfaces or associated with interfaces. Despite the focus of modern microbiology research on pure culture, planktonic (free-swimming) bacteria, it is now widely recognized that most bacteria found in natural, clinical, and industrial settings persist in association with surfaces. Furthermore, these microbial communities are often composed of multiple species that interact with each other and their environment. The determination of biofilm architecture, particularly the spatial arrangement of microcolonies (clusters of cells) relative to one another, has profound implications for the function of these complex communities. Numerous new experimental approaches and methodologies have been developed in order to explore metabolic interactions, phylogenetic groupings, and competition among members of the biofilm. To complement this broad view of biofilm ecology, individual organisms have been studied using molecular genetics in order to identify the genes required for biofilm development and to dissect the regulatory pathways that control the plankton-to-biofilm transition. These molecular genetic studies have led to the emergence of the concept of biofilm formation as a novel system for the study of bacterial development. The recent explosion in the field of biofilm research has led to exciting progress in the development of new technologies for studying these communities, advanced our understanding of the ecological significance of surface-attached bacteria, and provided new insights into the molecular genetic basis of biofilm development.

2,910 citations


"Marine biofilms on artificial surfa..." refers background in this paper

  • ...The moment a clean surface is submerged in the sea, biofilm-forming micro-organisms will rapidly colonize it and subsequently form highly complex, dynamic three-dimensional (3D) surface structures (Davey and O’Toole, 2000; Huggett et al., 2009; Molino et al., 2009a)....

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