Biofilms and cellulose – biophysical consequences

See our paper on biofilms and the pathway controlling the cellulose production at the air-liquid-interface.

Title: Causes and biophysical consequences of cellulose production by Pseudomonas fluorescens SBW25 at the air-liquid interface
Authors: Maxime Ardré, Djinthana Dufour, Paul B Rainey

Biofilm formation by P. fluorescens at the air-liquid interface (ALI). The photo is a top view of a well (40mm diameter).
The bacteria produce small white dots on the interface by up regulating the cellulose production locally. The more white areas scattered on the surface indicate the presence of active convection into the liquid below. This convection is driven by the biomass increase at the ALI.
We decipher the importance of several metabolic pathways involved in the cellulose production. We give a mathematical model that explains the apparition of streams. We rationalize the consequences of the streams over the spatial distribution of extracellular products produced by the bacteria within the biofilm.