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

1.9K
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...
1.9K
Colonisation of Pathogens01:25

Colonisation of Pathogens

35
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...
35
Microbial Interactions: Competition01:26

Microbial Interactions: Competition

54
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...
54
Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing01:28

Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing

882
Quorum sensing is a mechanism of bacterial communication that enables coordinated gene expression in response to changes in population density. This facilitates collective behaviors that enhance survival, resource acquisition, and ecological adaptation. This process relies on small signaling molecules called autoinducers that accumulate as bacterial populations grow. When a critical threshold concentration of autoinducers is reached, bacterial cells collectively modify gene expression,...
882
The Oral Microbiota01:27

The Oral Microbiota

38
The oral microbiome includes a complex ecosystem comprising over 700 microbial species, identified through genomic sequencing and culture-based analyses to date. This community includes a core microbiome, found universally among individuals, and a variable component influenced by environmental factors such as diet, lifestyle, and host genetics. Site-specific conditions, including oxygen gradients, pH levels, and nutrient availability, determine the spatial distribution of these microorganisms...
38
Regulation of Bacterial Virulence01:28

Regulation of Bacterial Virulence

36
Pathogenic bacteria employ a range of regulatory mechanisms to modulate the expression of virulence genes in response to environmental and host-derived signals. These mechanisms ensure that virulence factors are expressed only under favorable conditions, thereby optimizing infection and survival strategies.Mechanisms of Virulence RegulationKey regulatory strategies include:Two-Component Systems: These consist of a membrane-bound sensor kinase and a cytoplasmic response regulator. Environmental...
36

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Structural modeling reveals the mechanism of motor ATPase coordination during type IV pilus retraction.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
Same author

Predator-prey dynamics of Vibrio cholerae on chitin suggest an alternative mode of biofilm formation in marine snow conditions.

The ISME journal·2026
Same author

Bacterial conjugation can restructure biofilms and increase their resilience while constraining host cell dispersal.

Current biology : CB·2025
Same author

Spatial constraint drives negative frequency dependent selection of phage weaponization.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2025
Same author

<i><i>Vibrio cholerae</i></i> biofilm matrix assembly and growth are shaped by a glutamate-specific TAXI/TRAP protein.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2025
Same author

<i>Vibrio cholerae</i> interaction with predatory bacteria on chitin suggests an alternative mode of biofilm formation in marine snow conditions.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 2, 2026

Monitoring Spatial Segregation in Surface Colonizing Microbial Populations
07:40

Monitoring Spatial Segregation in Surface Colonizing Microbial Populations

Published on: October 29, 2016

11.7K

Biofilm spatial structure and superinfection immunity modulate inter-phage competition.

James B Winans1,2, Carey D Nadell1,2

  • 1Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America.

Plos Biology
|March 31, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Biofilm structure impacts phage strategies. Temperate phages thrive in dense biofilms by lysing hosts, while lytic phages are limited, favoring temperate phage growth and genome transmission.

More Related Videos

Quantification of Interbacterial Competition using Single-Cell Fluorescence Imaging
07:34

Quantification of Interbacterial Competition using Single-Cell Fluorescence Imaging

Published on: September 2, 2021

3.9K
A Platform of Anti-biofilm Assays Suited to the Exploration of Natural Compound Libraries
09:39

A Platform of Anti-biofilm Assays Suited to the Exploration of Natural Compound Libraries

Published on: December 27, 2016

18.8K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 2, 2026

Monitoring Spatial Segregation in Surface Colonizing Microbial Populations
07:40

Monitoring Spatial Segregation in Surface Colonizing Microbial Populations

Published on: October 29, 2016

11.7K
Quantification of Interbacterial Competition using Single-Cell Fluorescence Imaging
07:34

Quantification of Interbacterial Competition using Single-Cell Fluorescence Imaging

Published on: September 2, 2021

3.9K
A Platform of Anti-biofilm Assays Suited to the Exploration of Natural Compound Libraries
09:39

A Platform of Anti-biofilm Assays Suited to the Exploration of Natural Compound Libraries

Published on: December 27, 2016

18.8K

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Ecology
  • Systems Biology

Background:

  • Phages exhibit lytic or temperate life cycles, with implications for host interaction.
  • Biofilm environments present unique spatial constraints not fully explored in phage strategy research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how biofilm architecture influences the ecological success of lytic versus temperate phage infection strategies.
  • To understand phage-host dynamics at a single-cell level within three-dimensional bacterial biofilms.

Main Methods:

  • Development of a live imaging system for tracking phage infections in Escherichia coli biofilms.
  • Single-cell resolution analysis of lytic infections, lysogenic infections, and uninfected cells.
  • Competition assays between lysogenized bacteria and obligately lytic phages within biofilms.

Main Results:

  • Biofilm structure significantly affects the ecological success of different phage infection strategies.
  • Lysogenic infections are favored in densely packed biofilms where phage mobility is limited.
  • Matrix-replete biofilms restrict lytic phage infection, promoting lysogenic growth and vertical phage genome transmission.
  • Spatial structure and superinfection potential critically influence phage competition outcomes in biofilms.

Conclusions:

  • Biofilm architecture can constrain lytic phage infection, favoring temperate phages utilizing the lysogenic cycle.
  • Temperate phages can leverage biofilm interiors for progeny release, with outcomes dependent on diffusion limitations.
  • The study highlights the importance of spatial ecology in shaping phage evolution and bacterial population dynamics.