Project description:Bacillus subtilis is a Gram-positive bacterium that serves as an important experimental system. B. subtilis NCIB 3610 is an undomesticated strain that exhibits phenotypes lost from the more common domesticated laboratory strains. Here, we announce the complete genome sequence of DK1042, a genetically competent derivative of NCIB 3610.

| S-EPMC5477328 | biostudies-literature

Direct Comparison of Physical Properties of Bacillus subtilis NCIB 3610 and B-1 Biofilms.

Project description:Many bacteria form surface-attached communities known as biofilms. Due to the extreme resistance of these bacterial biofilms to antibiotics and mechanical stresses, biofilms are of growing interest not only in microbiology but also in medicine and industry. Previous studies have determined the extracellular polymeric substances present in the matrix of biofilms formed by Bacillus subtilis NCIB 3610. However, studies on the physical properties of biofilms formed by this strain are just emerging. In particular, quantitative data on the contributions of biofilm matrix biopolymers to these physical properties are lacking. Here, we quantitatively investigated three physical properties of B. subtilis NCIB 3610 biofilms: the surface roughness and stiffness and the bulk viscoelasticity of these biofilms. We show how specific biomolecules constituting the biofilm matrix formed by this strain contribute to those biofilm properties. In particular, we demonstrate that the surface roughness and surface elasticity of 1-day-old NCIB 3610 biofilms are strongly affected by the surface layer protein BslA. For a second strain,B. subtilis B-1, which forms biofilms containing mainly γ-polyglutamate, we found significantly different physical biofilm properties that are also differently affected by the commonly used antibacterial agent ethanol. We show that B-1 biofilms are protected from ethanol-induced changes in the biofilm's stiffness and that this protective effect can be transferred to NCIB 3610 biofilms by the sole addition of γ-polyglutamate to growing NCIB 3610 biofilms. Together, our results demonstrate the importance of specific biofilm matrix components for the distinct physical properties of B. subtilis biofilms.

| S-EPMC4959484 | biostudies-literature

Metal ions weaken the hydrophobicity and antibiotic resistance of <i>Bacillus subtilis</i> NCIB 3610 biofilms.

Project description:Surface superhydrophobicity makes bacterial biofilms very difficult to fight, and it is a combination of their matrix composition and complex surface roughness which synergistically protects these biomaterials from wetting. Although trying to eradicate biofilms with aqueous (antibiotic) solutions is common practice, this can be a futile approach if the biofilms have superhydrophobic properties. To date, there are not many options available to reduce the liquid repellency of biofilms or to prevent this material property from developing. Here, we present a solution to this challenge. We demonstrate how the addition of metal ions such as copper and zinc during or after biofilm formation can render the surface of otherwise superhydrophobic B. subtilis NCIB 3610 biofilms completely wettable. As a result of this procedure, these smoother, hydrophilic biofilms are more susceptible to aqueous antibiotics solutions. Our strategy proposes a scalable and widely applicable step in a multi-faceted approach to eradicate biofilms.

| S-EPMC6941983 | biostudies-literature

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