Sophisticated Swarming: Bacteria Support Each Other Across Generations
Published:28 Nov.2023 Source:University of Basel
When bacteria build communities, they cooperate and share nutrients across generations. Researchers at the University of Basel have been able to demonstrate this for the first time using a newly developed method. This innovative technique enables the tracking of gene expression during the development of bacterial communities over space and time.
In nature, bacteria usually live in communities. They collectively colonize our gut, also known as the gut microbiome, or form biofilms such as dental plaque.Living in communities provides many advantages to the individual microbes.
They are more resilient against adverse environmental conditions, conquer new territories and benefit from each other. The development of bacterial communities is a highly complex process where bacteria form intricate three-dimensional structures.