Bacillus subtilis utilizes the DNA damage response to manage multicellular development

Abstract

Biofilm disruption: A bacterial escape plan Exposure to chemicals that damage DNA makes Bacillus subtilis bacteria turn off genes that maintain the biofilm state, releasing some bacteria. This mechanism to free cells from a biofilm is surprising, as biofilms holding bacteria together are generally considered to form as a protective mechanism for the bacteria. Yunrong Chai and colleagues at Northeastern University in Boston, USA, detected the surprising behavior in biofilms exposed to superoxide—a chemical species that damages DNA. They suggest that when the potential for damage to bacterial DNA reaches a threshold it signals that the environment is not suitable for cells to remain in the entrapped biofilm form, triggering disruption of the biofilm as a survival strategy. This response to DNA damage may be relevant to clinical conditions as biofilms are involved in many infectious diseases.