Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Surface Appendages of Archaea01:23

Surface Appendages of Archaea

Archaeal surface appendages are highly specialized structures essential for environmental adaptation, encompassing roles in adhesion, biofilm formation, and motility. Among these appendages, pili and archaella stand out for their distinct morphologies and functionalities, enabling archaea to thrive in diverse and often extreme environments.Pili: Adhesion and Biofilm FormationPili are filamentous structures assembled from pilin protein subunits, primarily contributing to adhesion and biofilm...
Fimbriae, Pili, and Axial Filaments01:28

Fimbriae, Pili, and Axial Filaments

Fimbriae and pili are specialized bacterial surface structures that play pivotal roles in adhesion, genetic exchange, and motility. Composed primarily of pilin protein, these hairlike appendages are crucial for bacterial survival and pathogenicity in various environments.Fimbriae: Adhesion and PathogenicityFimbriae are fine, filamentous structures measuring 2–10 nanometers in diameter and are densely distributed on the bacterial cell surface. They facilitate bacterial adhesion to abiotic...
Outer Layers of the Cell Envelope01:18

Outer Layers of the Cell Envelope

The outermost layers of prokaryotic cells play a critical role in their survival, virulence, and interaction with the environment. These layers, often composed of polysaccharides, polypeptides, or proteins, form protective and adhesive structures that vary in organization and function.Capsules and Slime LayersCapsules are highly organized, tightly bound layers that firmly attach to the bacterial cell wall. Capsules are usually made of polysaccharides, though some are made of polypeptides. These...
Biofilms01:29

Biofilms

Biofilms are complex communities of microorganisms encased in a self-produced extracellular polysaccharide matrix attached to surfaces. These microbial consortia can include single or multiple species, providing enhanced survival benefits by forming organized, multilayered structures.The formation of biofilms occurs through four key stages: attachment, colonization, development, and dispersal.During attachment, free-swimming planktonic cells adhere to a surface, often facilitated by...
Adherens Junctions01:24

Adherens Junctions

Strong contact points between adjacent cells anchor them to each other, forming tissues. Such anchoring junctions are of two types –  adherens junctions and desmosomes. Adherens junctions are abundant in tissues such as  epithelium and endothelium, forming a continuous zone of adhesion called the adhesion belt. In other tissues, such as  heart muscle, they appear as clusters, linking the cells to produce coordinated heart muscle contraction.
Adherens Junctions are Dynamic
The endothelial cells...
Colonisation of Pathogens01:25

Colonisation of Pathogens

Pathogen colonization of host tissues is a critical step in the development of infectious diseases. Various pathogenic microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoa, have evolved complex strategies to attach to, invade, and persist within host environments. These mechanisms enable pathogens to establish infections, evade immune responses, and resist antimicrobial treatments.Attachment to Host CellsIn bacteria, colonization typically begins with adherence to host epithelial...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

The Complexation Properties of Self-Defensive Microgel-Modified Antimicrobial Surfaces.

ACS applied bio materials·2026
Same author

Microbial responses to antibiotics cryptically shift the direction of disease outcomes.

Scientific reports·2025
Same author

FleQ finetunes the expression of a subset of BrlR-activated genes to enable antibiotic tolerance by <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> biofilms.

Journal of bacteriology·2025
Same author

Distinct transcriptome and traits of freshly dispersed <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> cells.

mSphere·2024
Same author

Flip the switch: the role of FleQ in modulating the transition between the free-living and sessile mode of growth in <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>.

Journal of bacteriology·2024
Same author

<i>cis</i>-DA-dependent dispersion by <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> biofilm and identification of <i>cis</i>-DA-sensory protein DspS.

mBio·2023

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 24, 2026

Introducing Shear Stress in the Study of Bacterial Adhesion
13:28

Introducing Shear Stress in the Study of Bacterial Adhesion

Published on: September 2, 2011

Sticky situations: key components that control bacterial surface attachment.

Olga E Petrova1, Karin Sauer

  • 1Department of Biological Sciences, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York, USA.

Journal of Bacteriology
|March 6, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Bacterial biofilm formation begins when free-swimming cells attach to a surface. This review highlights recent research on the signals and components facilitating this transition and permanent surface association.

More Related Videos

Biomimetic Materials to Characterize Bacteria-host Interactions
12:22

Biomimetic Materials to Characterize Bacteria-host Interactions

Published on: November 16, 2015

Monitoring Spatial Segregation in Surface Colonizing Microbial Populations
07:40

Monitoring Spatial Segregation in Surface Colonizing Microbial Populations

Published on: October 29, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 24, 2026

Introducing Shear Stress in the Study of Bacterial Adhesion
13:28

Introducing Shear Stress in the Study of Bacterial Adhesion

Published on: September 2, 2011

Biomimetic Materials to Characterize Bacteria-host Interactions
12:22

Biomimetic Materials to Characterize Bacteria-host Interactions

Published on: November 16, 2015

Monitoring Spatial Segregation in Surface Colonizing Microbial Populations
07:40

Monitoring Spatial Segregation in Surface Colonizing Microbial Populations

Published on: October 29, 2016

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Biochemistry
  • Surface Science

Background:

  • Bacterial biofilm formation is a critical process in microbiology.
  • It involves a transition from planktonic (free-swimming) to sessile (surface-attached) growth.
  • Understanding initial attachment is key to controlling biofilms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent research on bacterial biofilm initiation.
  • To identify common themes in components, signals, and cues involved in surface transition.
  • To elucidate factors promoting permanent surface association.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent scientific publications.
  • Synthesis of findings on molecular and environmental factors.
  • Identification of recurring mechanisms in biofilm formation.

Main Results:

  • Key molecular components and signaling pathways mediating surface attachment have been identified.
  • Environmental cues influencing the transition to sessile growth are highlighted.
  • Common themes in establishing stable biofilm structures are emerging.

Conclusions:

  • Bacterial surface attachment is a complex, multi-step process.
  • Coordinated action of specific molecules and signals drives initial biofilm development.
  • Further research can target these mechanisms for biofilm control.