Engineered bidirectional communication mediates a consensus in a microbial biofilm consortium.

Structure and selection in an engineered symbiotic biofilm consortium

Cell Contact–Dependent Outer Membrane Exchange in Myxobacteria: Genetic Determinants and Mechanism

Biofilms are dense microbial communities. Although widely distributed and medically important, how biofilm cells interact with one another is poorly understood. Recently, we described a novel process whereby myxobacterial biofilm cells exchange their outer membrane (OM) lipoproteins. For the first time we report here the identification of two host proteins, TraAB, required for transfer. These p...

Self-Organization, Layered Structure, and Aggregation Enhance Persistence of a Synthetic Biofilm Consortium

Microbial consortia constitute a majority of the earth's biomass, but little is known about how these cooperating communities persist despite competition among community members. Theory suggests that non-random spatial structures contribute to the persistence of mixed communities; when particular structures form, they may provide associated community members with a growth advantage over unassoc...

Characterization and performance of a toluene-degrading biofilm developed on pumice stones

BACKGROUND: Hydrocarbon-degrading biofilms in the treatment of contaminated groundwaters have received increasing attention due to the role played in the so-called "biobarriers". These are bioremediation systems in which a microbial consortium adherent to a solid support is placed across the flow of a contaminated plume, thus promoting biodegradation of the pollutant. RESULTS: A microbial conso...

Diesel Degradation and Bioemulsifiers Production Using Bubble-Column with a Microbial Consortium Isolated from Hydrocarbon-Contaminated Soil

Diesel is composed of various toxic compounds that can have a negative influence on the environment including plants, microorganisms, and even groundwater being used for cultivation and human consumption. Diesel oil biodegradation kinetics was investigated using bubble-column reactor and microbial consortium isolated from a hydrocarbons spill site and were assessed<em...