Question

What are some ways that microbes are found in nature that differ from how they are found in the lab? What are biofilms? Be able to describe and explain the formation of biofilms and some examples of interdomain communication.

Answer 1

Following can be the ways by which microbes found in nature differ from microns in lab:

1.   Difference in environmental temperature and temperature inside the lab which is maintained low always because of many reasons.

2.   Natural environment microbes are continuously exposed to various environmental factors such as variation in temperature, light, humidity, dust.

3.   Microbes in nature are continuously interacting with host or other competitor organisms as well interacting with other living organisms around, which is not same in labs.

Biofilms: When a group of microorganisms deposited on a solid surface in which mostly microbe cells are stick to each other to form a smooth surface is known as biofilms. The cells in biofilm produce some extracellular polymeric substances which gives smooth and slimy appearance to the biofilm.

Interdomain communication in biofilm: Cells in biofilm can communicate with each other by some chemical signals. Cells can produce some extracellular chemical messengers which can act over nearby cells to receive the message.