Micro-CT X-ray imaging exposes structured diffusion barriers within biofilms.

ABSTRACT: In nature, bacteria predominantly exist as highly structured biofilms, which are held together by extracellular polymeric substance and protect their residents from environmental insults, such as antibiotics. The mechanisms supporting this phenotypic resistance are poorly understood. Recently, we identified a new mechanism maintaining biofilms - an active production of calcite minerals. In this work, a high-resolution and robust µCT technique is used to study the mineralized areas within intact bacterial biofilms. µCT is a vital tool for visualizing bacterial communities that can provide insights into the relationship between bacterial biofilm structure and function. Our results imply that dense and structured calcium carbonate lamina forms a diffusion barrier sheltering the inner cell mas

SUBMITTER: Keren-Paz A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5904145 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature