A new perspective work reveals insights into the development of bacterial biofilms, highlighting how these communities adapt to environmental stress through complex interactions between physical and biological processes occurring in the surrounding environment. The research could have broad implications for fields such as medicine, environmental science, and industry.

Led by Prof. Liraz Chai from the Institute of Chemistry and The Harvey M. Krueger Family Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and in collaboration with Prof. Vasily Zaburdaev from Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Max-Planck-Zentrum für Physik und Medizin, and Prof. Roberto Kotler from Harvard Medical School, this perspective  describes how physical and chemical processes occurring in the extracellular space of bacterial communities work together to shape biofilm morphology and physiology, thereby also allowing them to survive in challenging environments.

Bacterial biofilms, often seen as slimy layers on various surfaces, for example, catheters, teeth and even plant roots, have long been studied for their complex behavior and resistance to external threats like antibiotics. However, this new perspective paper takes a unique approach by combining molecular biology with biophysics to highlight the importance of extracellular rather then intracellular processes in determining biofilm organization into complex structures that resemble human tissues. By using Bacillus subtilis, a beneficial bacterium, as a model, the researchers were able to look closely at the interactions between extracellular molecules and between molecules and cells within these communities on both small and large scales.

In their assay the researchers explain that we need to broaden the discussion from the extracellular matrix to the extracellular space. The extracellular matrix is just one component within a complex environment, immersed in water, dissolved nutrients, signaling molecules, waste products, and metal ions. In this milieu, various physical processes directly influence biofilm physiology as molecules and bacteria interact and affect one another.

The study highlights the role of proteins, polysaccharides, water channels, and metal ions in shaping the biofilm’s morphology. These components help create the macroscopic wrinkles and water-filled channels that allow biofilms to thrive. In addition to understanding macroscopic structures in biofilms , the research also delves into how processes at the molecular scale allows biofilms adapt to environmental stressors such as dehydration. The findings suggest that the cross talk between cells in biofilms and molecular processes in the extracellular space enable  complex biological processes, such as differentiation, to adjust their physiology to survive in changing environments.

This work serves as a reminder of how closely intertwined biological and physical processes are in shaping the microscopic world. Opening up new possibilities for understanding complex space-time hierarchical organization in biofilms from the nanometer scale of individual proteins to whole biofilms at the scale of centimeters, it offers an exciting step forward in biofilm research, with potential applications in combating biofilm-related infections, improving industrial processes, and protecting ecosystems.

The research paper titled “How bacteria actively use passive physics to make biofilms” is now available in PNAS and can be accessed at https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2403842121
DOI https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2403842121.

Researchers:

Liraz Chai^1,2,3, Vasily Zaburdaev^4,5, Roberto Kolter⁶

Institutions:

1. Institute of Chemistry, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
2. The Harvey M. Krueger Family Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
3. Max Planck Queensland Centre, Queensland University of Technology
4. Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
5. Max-Planck-Zentrum für Physik und Medizin
6. Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is Israel’s premier academic and research institution. With over 23,000 students from 90 countries, it is a hub for advancing scientific knowledge and holds a significant role in Israel’s civilian scientific research output, accounting for nearly 40% of it and has registered over 11,000 patents. The university’s faculty and alumni have earned eight Nobel Prizes, two Turing Awards a Fields Medal, underscoring their contributions to ground-breaking discoveries. In the global arena, the Hebrew University ranks 81th according to the Shanghai Ranking. To learn more about the university’s academic programs, research initiatives, and achievements, visit the official website at http://new.huji.ac.il/en