Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Modern Molecular Taxonomy

Modern Molecular Taxonomy

Advancements in molecular biology have revolutionized the identification and characterization of bacteria, with multiple methods leveraging DNA sequencing for enhanced precision. As sequencing technologies improve and costs decline, these approaches are increasingly used in clinical, environmental, and evolutionary studies.Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST) examines several housekeeping genes, essential chromosomal genes encoding cellular functions, to distinguish strains. Approximately...

Applications of Molecular Taxonomy

Applications of Molecular Taxonomy

Molecular taxonomy has revolutionized the understanding and classification of bacteria, providing precise insights into their diversity, evolutionary relationships, and ecological roles. By utilizing molecular techniques such as DNA sequencing and fingerprinting, researchers have made significant strides in various fields related to bacterial studies.Resolving Taxonomic AmbiguitiesMolecular taxonomy has been instrumental in distinguishing closely related bacterial species initially thought to...

Methods of Classification and Identification

Methods of Classification and Identification

Bacterial identification relies on a diverse array of techniques to classify and understand microorganisms, each tailored to uncover specific characteristics. Traditional morphological approaches, while still valuable, are limited for closely related or structurally simple organisms. Modern methods integrate biochemical, serological, genetic, and advanced molecular tools to achieve greater accuracy.Morphological and Biochemical TechniquesMorphological characteristics, such as cell shape and...

Bacterial Phylum Actinobacteria

Bacterial Phylum Actinobacteria

Coryneform bacteria are gram-positive, aerobic, nonmotile rods that exhibit irregular, club-shaped, or V-shaped arrangements. Their V-shape results from snapping division, where the inner cell wall layer forms the cross-wall, while the outer layer remains intact until it ruptures on one side, causing the daughter cells to bend away.The primary genera are Corynebacterium and Arthrobacter. Corynebacterium includes diverse species, ranging from saprophytes to pathogens like Corynebacterium...

Differential Staining Technique

Differential Staining Technique

Differential staining is an essential microbiological technique that exploits variations in cell wall structures to classify and identify microorganisms. It facilitates the distinction of bacteria, aiding in diagnostic and research applications. Two of the most widely used differential staining methods are Gram staining and acid-fast staining, both of which rely on the chemical and structural differences in bacterial cell walls.Gram Staining TechniqueGram staining differentiates bacteria by...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

Professional Academies: The Duty to Lead.

Microbial biotechnology·2026

Same author

ERF transcription factor StPti5 is a regulator of endophyte community maintenance in potato.

The New phytologist·2026

Same author

The role of microbiology in balancing nature during the Anthropocene.

microLife·2026

Same author

Biofilm structure as a key factor in antibiotic tolerance: insights from Bacillus subtilis model systems.

NPJ biofilms and microbiomes·2025

Same author

Probiotic effect of B. subtilis PS-216 in broiler chickens: modulation of weight, feed conversion, short chain fatty acids, microbiota and meat quality.

Animal microbiome·2025

Same author

Bacterial social interactions in synthetic <i>Bacillus</i> consortia enhance plant growth.

iMeta·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 1, 2026

Single-cell Microfluidic Analysis of Bacillus subtilis

Single-cell Microfluidic Analysis of Bacillus subtilis

Published on: January 26, 2018

Kin discrimination between sympatric Bacillus subtilis isolates.

Polonca Stefanic¹, Barbara Kraigher¹, Nicholas Anthony Lyons²

¹Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

|October 7, 2015

Summary

Soil bacteria Bacillus subtilis show kin discrimination, preferring to swarm with relatives. This behavior influences interactions on plant roots, with kin forming mixed biofilms and non-kin showing antagonistic competition.

Keywords:

antagonism biofilm kin recognition social evolution swarming

More Related Videos

Using Coculture to Detect Chemically Mediated Interspecies Interactions

Using Coculture to Detect Chemically Mediated Interspecies Interactions

Published on: October 31, 2013

Single-cell Analysis of Bacillus subtilis Biofilms Using Fluorescence Microscopy and Flow Cytometry

Single-cell Analysis of Bacillus subtilis Biofilms Using Fluorescence Microscopy and Flow Cytometry

Published on: February 15, 2012

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 1, 2026

Single-cell Microfluidic Analysis of Bacillus subtilis

Single-cell Microfluidic Analysis of Bacillus subtilis

Published on: January 26, 2018

Using Coculture to Detect Chemically Mediated Interspecies Interactions

Using Coculture to Detect Chemically Mediated Interspecies Interactions

Published on: October 31, 2013

Single-cell Analysis of Bacillus subtilis Biofilms Using Fluorescence Microscopy and Flow Cytometry

Single-cell Analysis of Bacillus subtilis Biofilms Using Fluorescence Microscopy and Flow Cytometry

Published on: February 15, 2012

Area of Science:

Microbiology
Behavioral Ecology
Evolutionary Biology

Background:

Kin discrimination, the differential treatment of conspecifics based on relatedness, is crucial for directing cooperation towards relatives in biological systems.
Swarming in Bacillus subtilis is a cooperative multicellular behavior with ecological implications.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the capacity of Bacillus subtilis to discriminate between kin and non-kin during swarming behavior.
To examine the ecological consequences of kin discrimination in bacterial interactions, specifically on plant roots.

Main Methods:

Pairwise interaction assays of sympatric Bacillus subtilis strains in swarming experiments.
Analysis of swarm boundary formation and merging behavior correlated with phylogenetic relatedness.
Cocolonization experiments on plant roots to assess biofilm formation by kin and non-kin pairs.

Main Results:

The majority of Bacillus subtilis swarms formed distinct boundaries, indicating discrimination against non-kin.
Swarm merging occurred exclusively between highly related kin strain pairs, strongly correlating with phylogenetic relatedness.
Kin strains successfully cocolonized plant roots forming mixed biofilms, whereas non-kin strains exhibited antagonistic interactions leading to single-strain biofilms.

Conclusions:

Bacillus subtilis demonstrates robust kin discrimination in a multicellular swarming context.
Kin discrimination influences bacterial interactions on plant roots, promoting cooperation among relatives and antagonism among non-kin.
This study establishes kin discrimination as a significant factor in bacterial ecological interactions.