BIOFILM DISPERSAL

Microbial persuasion: cross-species triggering of biofilm dispersal as a competitive strategy in marine Bacilli

Coordinatore	UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE    more  Organization address address: Kensington Terrace 6 city: NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE postcode: NE1 7RU contact info Titolo: Prof. Nome: J Grant Cognome: Burgess Email: send email Telefono: +44 191 222 3057 Fax: +44 191 222 1054
Nazionalità Coordinatore	United Kingdom [UK]
Totale costo	177˙740 €
EC contributo	177˙740 €
Programma	FP7-PEOPLE Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013)
Code Call	FP7-PEOPLE-2007-2-1-IEF
Funding Scheme	MC-IEF
Anno di inizio	2008
Periodo (anno-mese-giorno)	2008-03-01   -   2010-02-28

 Partecipanti

#	participant	country	role	EC contrib. [€]
1	UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE  Organization address address: Kensington Terrace 6 city: NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE postcode: NE1 7RU contact info Titolo: Prof. Nome: J Grant Cognome: Burgess Email: send email Telefono: +44 191 222 3057 Fax: +44 191 222 1054	UK (NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE)	coordinator	0.00

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The predominant mode of growth of bacteria in the natural environment is in biofilms. Although biofilm formation can be advantageous for bacteria, it has also some disadvantages, such as limited migration to an environment with fewer competitors or more nutrients. It is therefore not surprising that bacteria are not only form biofilms, but also are able to actively escape from the biofilm, a process called dispersal. Furthermore, in a competition between species, the production of signalling molecules that can actively induce the biofilm dispersal pathway of the competitors has evolved. In preliminary work, we observed that mature biofilms of a marine Micrococcus luteus strain and Escherichia coli could be dispersed by metabolites from a growing biofilm culture of a marine Bacillus licheniformis isolate. These results suggest that the dispersal of the M. luteus and E. coli biofilm may be an inducible, physiologically mediated process. This proposal aims to identify the compounds produced by the marine B. licheniformis EI-34-6, which brings about dispersal of the M. luteus and E. coli biofilms, and genes required for biosynthesis of these BDCs. Furthermore, we want to study the biofilm dispersal process on a single cell level using confocal scanning laser microscopy.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Communities of bacteria can band together for protection, creating a slimy coating that gums up pipes and fouls water tanks. Scientists are currently investigating the biological processes behind the creation and breakdown of these 'biofilms' as part of an EU-funded project.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

A biofilm is a complex community of microorganisms in which the cells adhere to one another to increase their ability to survive. Biofilms can be found everywhere, including on your teeth as dental plaque and the lining of your intestine. They even accumulate on ships and corrode their steel hulls.

Microorganisms can secrete a sticky substance that acts as a supportive medium, holding the cells together and protecting them from the outside world. Bacteria encased in biofilm have been found to be less sensitive to antimicrobial agents. Biofilms can also act as reservoirs for bacteria and can cause disease.

Compounds currently being investigated by the Biofilm project help to break down the supportive medium and disperse the bacteria they contain. Researchers are also analysing components produced by the bacteria Bacillus licheniformis, which can cause other bacteria to be separated from their biofilm.

The project is investigating the mechanisms behind the coordinated, inducible breakdown of biofilms. Scientists are thus studying biofilm dispersing compounds (BDCs) produced by marine bacteria and the genes which control their production and regulatory pathways.

BDCs have been identified as secreted hormones, which degrade the biofilm, resulting in the bacteria's rapid dispersal. This information gathered was used to determine the dispersal mechanism and prevent a new biofilms from forming.

The consortium's work is helping microbiologists gain a clearer understanding of the formation and breakdown of biofilms and their role in spreading disease. The project's main outcome, however, has been the identification of secreted bacterial enzymes as biofilm dispersal agents. The results could have commercial applications and one project partner has already filed for a UK patent.