A Survey of A-L Biofilm Formation and Cellulose Expression Amongst Soil and Plant-Associated Pseudomonas Isolates

摘要

A critical first step in the colonisation of a new environment is the attachment of individual bacteria to an appropriate surface, such as that provided by a leaf or root, detritus or soil particle. Surface attachment is crucial, allowing growth without requiring further energy expenditure to maintain position in an ideal environment (Costerton et al, 1995). Such growth can result in a variety of assemblages ranging from micro-colonies to larger aggregates, biofilms, slimes and floes of suspended material. These assemblages are evolved strategies enabling individual bacteria to overcome environmental stress, physical disturbance, predation and competition by acting as a cohesive population. Although often initiated and dominated by one species, theyare undoubtedly complex communities where composition changes as the local environment is modified and the assemblage develops. Large communities can dominate complex environments where they act as principle foci for further colonisation, or reservoirsto replenish populations in environments with a high degree of physical disturbance or mortality. (For a selection of biofilm reviews, see Costerton et al, 1995; Davey and O'Toole, 2000; Morris and Monier, 2003; Hall-Stoodley et al., 2004; Ramey et al, 2004; Branda et al, 2005).