BACTERIAL BIOFILM FORMATION UNDER ANTIBACTERIAL STRESS AND IN SYMBIOTIC CULTURE

Abstract

Traditionally, bacterial systems are viewed as a collection of identical, individual cells growing in pure planktonic cultures in laboratory flasks, incognizant of and unaffected by the presence of other cells in the vicinity. However, it has gradually become clearer that bacterial cultures are highly heterogeneous and more often exist in other life forms, in symbiosis with a multitude of organisms. This study investigates some aspects of biofilm formation, interspecies interactions and culture heterogeneity in bacterial systems. In particular, bacterial mortality and biofilm formation in the presence of antibacterial stress were examined and modeled. In addition, the molecular changes taking place on bacterial surface under antibacterial stress and in symbiotic culture were identified. Results indicate that bacterial cultures respond to antibacterial stress to counter its effect and facilitate biofilm formation. In symbiotic culture, bacteria respond in a remarkably similar fashion as they do under antibacterial stress.