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Related Concept Videos

Adherens Junctions01:24

Adherens Junctions

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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.
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Microbial Interactions: Competition01:26

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Microbial competition is an ecological interaction in which microorganisms vie for limited resources within shared environments. These resources may include nutrients, space, or light, depending on the system. The intensity and outcome of competition are influenced by the environmental context, such as nutrient availability, spatial constraints, and the diversity of microbial species present. These competitive interactions significantly influence the structure, function, and resilience of...
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Adhesion01:14

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Adhesion occurs when one type of molecule is attracted to a different molecule. Water exhibits adhesive properties in the presence of polar surfaces, such as glass or cellulose in plants. For instance, when water is poured into a glass, the positively charged hydrogen molecules of water are more attracted to the negatively charged oxygen molecules in the silica than to the oxygen in neighboring water molecules.
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Colonisation of Pathogens01:25

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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...
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Microbial Interactions: Cooperation01:26

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Microbial cooperation involves beneficial interactions in which different species work together for individual or mutual advantage. These interactions can profoundly influence ecological dynamics and evolutionary processes, and they are essential to many pathogenic and symbiotic relationships.Nematode–Bacteria CooperationA striking example is the relationship between the Gram-negative bacterium Xenorhabdus nematophila and the parasitic nematode Steinernema carpocapsae. Juvenile nematodes...
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Microbial Interactions: Predation01:28

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Microbial predation refers to the process by which one microorganism kills and consumes another to obtain nutrients and energy. It encompasses both bacterial and protozoan predators. This interaction plays a crucial role in shaping microbial communities and regulating nutrient cycling.Bacterial Predators: Epibiotic vs. EndobioticBacterial predators are classified based on their mode of attack as either epibiotic or endobiotic. Epibiotic predators, such as Vampirococcus, attach to the surface of...
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In Vitro Assay of Bacterial Adhesion onto Mammalian Epithelial Cells
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Adhesion as a weapon in microbial competition.

Jonas Schluter1, Carey D Nadell2, Bonnie L Bassler2

  • 11] Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK [2] Oxford Centre for Integrative Systems Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK [3] Department of Evolutionary Studies of Biosystems, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (Sokendai), Hayama, Kanagawa, Japan.

The ISME Journal
|October 8, 2014
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Microbial adhesion is key to biofilm formation, but can lead to immobility and starvation. However, strong adhesion can also help microbes outcompete rivals for space and resources within biofilms.

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Biofilms are microbial communities crucial to microbial life and human impact.
  • Cell adhesion is vital for initial biofilm development but its role within mature communities is unclear.
  • Understanding microbial adhesion dynamics is essential for controlling biofilm-related processes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the evolutionary implications of cell adhesion within microbial biofilms.
  • To explore the trade-offs between adhesion, mobility, and competition in biofilm communities.
  • To model and experimentally validate the role of adhesion in microbial population dynamics.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized an individual-based model to simulate microbial biofilm evolution.
  • Analyzed the impact of adhesion on cell survival and competition under varying growth conditions.
  • Conducted flow cell experiments with Vibrio cholerae to test model predictions.

Main Results:

  • Adhesion can lead to immobility and starvation at the biofilm base.
  • Strong adhesion enables cells to capture substratum territory and outcompete less adhesive cells.
  • Vibrio cholerae matrix-secreting cells formed adhesive clusters that displaced non-secreting cells.

Conclusions:

  • Adhesion presents a dual role in biofilms: a potential liability (immobility) and an advantage (competitive exclusion).
  • Physical properties like adhesion are critical drivers of evolution and competition in microbial communities.
  • The findings have implications for understanding host-microbe interactions and biofilm control strategies.