MSU Scientists Eavesdrop On Bacterial
...his quorum-sensingchemical, Davies could grow only wimpy biofilms. They lacked the complex andresilient slime structure that characterizes a healthy bacterial community. "This shows that the biofilms we all know and love are determined by thepresence of these molecules," Davies said. "If we can kno...Eviction From Scum Home Makes Disease-Causing Microbe Vulnerable
...t by knocking out that gene,the bacteria form only wimpy biofilms that are vulnerable toattack by detergents. Instead of aligning themselves in fancymushroom- and pillar-shaped structures as healthy bacteria do,the bacteria without lasI simply pile up on top of each other.When the scientists subjected the ......chers also found that numbers matter: a lot of the wimpy ants could eventually do as good a job of protection as a few of the more aggressive ants. In addition, the results suggest that loading up a mild-mannered ant on nectar makes the ant better at plant protection by increasing its cravings for mea...