Deep Breaths

Have you ever been in such a tight crowd that it’s hard to breathe? Bacteria in their microscopic equivalent – the bottom of a biofilm, a molecular pile-on formed as populations swarm together – withstand the pressure, but their survival tactics are unclear. Biofilms give bacteria persistent purchase on substances and boost the harm they cause. Researchers need to understand how those at the bottom ‘breathe’, to help prevent bacteria such as P. aeruginosa, which commonly infects patients already in hospital, taking hold. They studied molecules known as phenazines, previously shown to be essential for biofilm formation, and discovered that they bind to fragments of genetic material floating loose in the film (pictured, blue; red shows DNA inside bacteria), remnants of dead bacteria that have spilled their contents. These structures shuttle particles in a relay chain between the bottom-dwelling bacteria and fresher surface. Cutting this supply chain could help stamp out infections.

Written by Anthony Lewis

Anthony Lewis

Writer

Ant was the web editor in the early days of BPoD, and has since worked with the UK’s top science organisations as a writer and multimedia producer. He now splits his time between freelance work and managing multimedia at The Lancet.

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• Image by Scott H. Saunders and colleagues
• Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, Caltech, Pasadena, CA, USA
• Image copyright Elsevier 2020. Reproduced with permission.
• Published in Cell, August 2020