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Published on: December 27, 2016
Suicide and fratricide in bacterial biofilms
Vinai Chittezham Thomas1, Lynn E Hancock
1Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506, USA.
Abstract:
Bacterial autolysis has recently been identified as a key mechanism that regulates different phases of biofilm development including microcolony formation and dispersal. However such autolytic measures are limited to a subfraction of cells within the entire biofilm population. Here we speculate on the role biofilm heterogeneity plays in limiting autolysis within biofilms and further describe the molecular regulation of suicidal and fratricidal mechanisms in biofilm development of Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis.
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