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Spatial structure, cooperation and competition in biofilms.

Abstract:
Biofilm formation, in which cells form matrix-enclosed communities, is a major mode of microbial life. The study of biofilms has revealed vast complexity both in terms of their resident species composition and phenotypic diversity. Despite this complexity, theoretical and experimental work in the past decade has identified common principles for understanding microbial biofilms. In this Review, we discuss how the spatial arrangement of genotypes within a community influences the cooperative and competitive cell-cell interactions that define biofilm form and function. Furthermore, we argue that a perspective rooted in ecology and evolution is fundamental to progress in microbiology.
Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Publisher copy:
10.1038/nrmicro.2016.84

Authors


More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Oxford college:
Magdalen College
Role:
Author


Publisher:
Nature Publishing Group
Journal:
Nature Reviews Microbiology More from this journal
Volume:
14
Issue:
9
Pages:
589-600
Publication date:
2016-07-01
Acceptance date:
2016-05-04
DOI:
ISSN:
1740-1526 and 1740-1534
Pmid:
27452230


Language:
English
Keywords:
Pubs id:
pubs:636500
UUID:
uuid:aeef8caa-f4e6-4352-bd0d-d98c403c2710
Local pid:
pubs:636500
Source identifiers:
636500
Deposit date:
2017-01-17

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