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

Biofilms01:29

Biofilms

546
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...
546

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Capturing Structure and Morphology in Responsive Microgels: From Intrinsic Free Energy to Collective Behavior.

Macromolecules·2026
Same author

Guiding AlphaFold predictions with experimental knowledge to inform dynamics and interactions with VAIRO.

Protein science : a publication of the Protein Society·2026
Same author

Functional characterization of the polar organizer protein FimV in <i>Pseudomonas putida</i>.

Journal of bacteriology·2026
Same author

Relevance of the computational models of bacterial interactions in the simulation of biofilm growth.

Physical review. E·2025
Same author

HsbA represses stationary phase biofilm formation in Pseudomonas putida.

Microbiological research·2025
Same author

Shaping the aggregates of discotic particles with directional pair interactions.

The Journal of chemical physics·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 2, 2025

In Situ Mapping of the Mechanical Properties of Biofilms by Particle-tracking Microrheology
12:58

In Situ Mapping of the Mechanical Properties of Biofilms by Particle-tracking Microrheology

Published on: December 4, 2015

9.9K

Polymer-induced microcolony compaction in early biofilms: A computer simulation study.

Francisco Javier Lobo-Cabrera1, Alessandro Patti2, Fernando Govantes3

  • 1Department of Physical, Chemical and Natural Systems, Pablo de Olavide University, 41013 Sevilla, Spain.

Physical Review. E
|June 17, 2021
PubMed
Summary

Researchers explored how polymer size and concentration affect bacterial biofilm formation using computer simulations and experiments. They found polymers can induce self-assembly and aggregation, leading to compact or complex colony structures like stripes and dendrites.

More Related Videos

Development of a Polymicrobial Colony Biofilm Model to Test Antimicrobials in Cystic Fibrosis
07:16

Development of a Polymicrobial Colony Biofilm Model to Test Antimicrobials in Cystic Fibrosis

Published on: September 20, 2024

1.4K
Quantifying the Effects of Antimicrobials on In vitro Biofilm Architecture using COMSTAT Software
06:18

Quantifying the Effects of Antimicrobials on In vitro Biofilm Architecture using COMSTAT Software

Published on: December 14, 2020

3.7K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Nov 2, 2025

In Situ Mapping of the Mechanical Properties of Biofilms by Particle-tracking Microrheology
12:58

In Situ Mapping of the Mechanical Properties of Biofilms by Particle-tracking Microrheology

Published on: December 4, 2015

9.9K
Development of a Polymicrobial Colony Biofilm Model to Test Antimicrobials in Cystic Fibrosis
07:16

Development of a Polymicrobial Colony Biofilm Model to Test Antimicrobials in Cystic Fibrosis

Published on: September 20, 2024

1.4K
Quantifying the Effects of Antimicrobials on In vitro Biofilm Architecture using COMSTAT Software
06:18

Quantifying the Effects of Antimicrobials on In vitro Biofilm Architecture using COMSTAT Software

Published on: December 14, 2020

3.7K

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Biophysics
  • Materials Science

Background:

  • Bacteria form biofilms on surfaces, contributing to infections.
  • Extracellular polymeric substances stabilize and promote bacterial biofilm growth.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate the impact of polymer size and concentration on early biofilm formation.
  • Understand the mechanisms driving bacterial self-assembly and aggregation in biofilms.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized computer simulations (Brownian dynamics) to model biofilm formation.
  • Conducted experiments using a Pseudomonas Putida strain with added polymers.

Main Results:

  • Bacterial cells formed disorganized clusters when diffusion outpaced growth.
  • Polymers induced size- and concentration-dependent self-assembly and aggregation.
  • Large polymers or high concentrations resulted in stripe-like and dendritic colony morphologies.
  • Simulations closely matched experimental observations.

Conclusions:

  • A threshold polymer concentration exists, differentiating growth regimes.
  • Below the threshold, polymer-induced compaction is driven by hindered diffusion.
  • Above the threshold, compaction is a collective phenomenon driven by depletion forces, leading to complex structures at high concentrations.