Community-wide changes reflecting bacterial interspecific interactions in multispecies biofilms

Abstract

Existence of most bacterial species, in natural, industrial, and clinical settings in the form of surface-adhered communities or biofilms has been well acknowledged for decades. Research predominantly focusses on single-species biofilms as these are relatively easy to study. However, microbiologists are now interested in studying multispecies biofilms and revealing interspecific interactions in these communities because of the existence of a plethora of different bacterial species together in almost all natural settings. Multispecies biofilms-led emergent properties are triggered by bacterial social interactions which have huge implication for research and practical knowledge useful for the control and manipulation of these microbial communities. Here, we discuss some important bacterial interactions that take place in multispecies biofilm communities and provide insights into community-wide changes that indicate bacterial interactions and elucidate underlying mechanisms.

Keywords:

• Mixed-species biofilms
• bacterial interactions
• biofilms
• microbial synergy
• antimicrobial tolerance

Author contributions

FAS wrote the initial draft manuscript and MB, MH, SF, LWW, CW, ZJX, and HZ edited the manuscript and provided detailed scientific comments for modification and then approved the final version after further revisions.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no competing interest to declare.

Additional information

Funding

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant number 31871774], the National First Class Discipline Program of Food Science and Technology [grant number JUFSTR20180102], and Collaborative Innovation Centre of Food Safety and Quality Control in Jiangsu Province.