Dynamic interspecies interactions and robustness in a four ?species model biofilm

Here, we describe the constitution of a model biofilm composed of four bacterial species, highly reproducible and robust against transient perturbations, in which we reveal a network of positive and negative interactions. Furthermore, we identified the molecular determinant of one negative interaction and demonstrated its importance for species distribution and its impact on biofilm robustness by mutational analysis of the multispecies ecosystem. AbstractInterspecific interactions within biofilms determine relative species abundance, growth dynamics, community resilience, and success or failure of invasion by an extraneous organism. However, deciphering interspecific interactions and assessing their contribution to biofilm properties and function remain a challenge. Here, we describe the constitution of a model biofilm composed of four bacterial species belonging to four different genera (Rhodocyclus sp.,Pseudomonas fluorescens, Kocuria varians, andBacillus cereus), derived from a biofilm isolated from an industrial milk pasteurization unit. We demonstrate that the growth dynamics and equilibrium composition of this biofilm are highly reproducible. Based on its equilibrium composition, we show that the establishment of this four-species biofilm is highly robust against initial, transient perturbations but less so towards continuous perturbations. By comparing biofilms formed from different numbers and combinations of the constituent species and by fitting a growth model to th...

Source: MicrobiologyOpen - December 7, 2021 Category: Microbiology Authors: Aur élie Baliarda, Michèle Winkler, Laurent Tournier, Colin R. Tinsley, Stéphane Aymerich Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research