Citation
Biofilms as complex differentiated communities
TL;DR
Biofilms are structured communities with differentiated cell types
This paper established that biofilms are not simple bacterial mats but complex differentiated communities with organized structure. The authors showed how quorum sensing coordinates biofilm development, with cells differentiating into specialized roles during formation.
Understanding biofilms as coordinated communities has important implications for medical treatment (over 80% of bacterial infections involve biofilms) and for understanding how decentralized coordination produces complex collective structures.
Key Findings from Stoodley et al. (2002)
- Biofilms are structured communities with differentiated cell types
- Quorum sensing regulates biofilm development and maturation
- Biofilm architecture includes channels for nutrient flow
- Over 80% of bacterial infections involve biofilms