Biofilms: An emergent form of bacterial life

Flemming, HC; Wingender, J; Szewzyk, U; Steinberg, P; Rice, SA; Kjelleberg, S

Biofilms: An emergent form of bacterial life

Flemming, HC Wingender, J Szewzyk, U Steinberg, P Rice, SA

Kjelleberg, S

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Nature Reviews Microbiology, 2016, 14 (9), pp. 563 - 575
Issue Date:: 2016-09-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Flemming, HC	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Wingender, J	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Szewzyk, U	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Steinberg, P	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Rice, SA https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9486-2343	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Kjelleberg, S	en_US
dc.date.issued	2016-09-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Nature Reviews Microbiology, 2016, 14 (9), pp. 563 - 575	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	1740-1526	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/101423
dc.description.abstract	© 2016 Macmillan Publishers Limited, part of Springer Nature. Bacterial biofilms are formed by communities that are embedded in a self-produced matrix of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). Importantly, bacteria in biofilms exhibit a set of 'emergent properties' that differ substantially from free-living bacterial cells. In this Review, we consider the fundamental role of the biofilm matrix in establishing the emergent properties of biofilms, describing how the characteristic features of biofilms-such as social cooperation, resource capture and enhanced survival of exposure to antimicrobials-all rely on the structural and functional properties of the matrix. Finally, we highlight the value of an ecological perspective in the study of the emergent properties of biofilms, which enables an appreciation of the ecological success of biofilms as habitat formers and, more generally, as a bacterial lifestyle.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Nature Reviews Microbiology	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1038/nrmicro.2016.94	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Microbiology	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Bacteria	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Biofilms	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Polymers	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Polysaccharides, Bacterial	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Anti-Bacterial Agents	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Bacterial Adhesion	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Bacterial Physiological Phenomena	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Microbial Consortia	en_US
dc.title	Biofilms: An emergent form of bacterial life	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	9	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	14	en_US
utslib.for	0605 Microbiology	en_US
utslib.for	1108 Medical Microbiology	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - ithree - Institute of Infection, Immunity and Innovation
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.issue	9	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	14	en_US

Abstract:

© 2016 Macmillan Publishers Limited, part of Springer Nature. Bacterial biofilms are formed by communities that are embedded in a self-produced matrix of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). Importantly, bacteria in biofilms exhibit a set of 'emergent properties' that differ substantially from free-living bacterial cells. In this Review, we consider the fundamental role of the biofilm matrix in establishing the emergent properties of biofilms, describing how the characteristic features of biofilms-such as social cooperation, resource capture and enhanced survival of exposure to antimicrobials-all rely on the structural and functional properties of the matrix. Finally, we highlight the value of an ecological perspective in the study of the emergent properties of biofilms, which enables an appreciation of the ecological success of biofilms as habitat formers and, more generally, as a bacterial lifestyle.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/101423