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Marine biofilms: diversity of communities and of chemical cues
Author(s) -
Antunes Jorge,
Leão Pedro,
Vasconcelos Vitor
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
environmental microbiology reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.229
H-Index - 69
ISSN - 1758-2229
DOI - 10.1111/1758-2229.12694
Subject(s) - biofilm , quorum sensing , fouling , biology , ecological succession , marine invertebrates , biofouling , marine bacteriophage , swarming (honey bee) , ecology , algae , microorganism , bacteria , genetics , membrane
Summary Surfaces immersed in seawater are rapidly colonized by various microorganisms, resulting in the formation of heterogenic marine biofilms. These communities are known to influence the settlement of algae spores and invertebrate larvae, triggering a succession of fouling events, with significant environmental and economic impacts. This review covers recent research regarding the differences in composition of biofilms isolated from different artificial surface types and the influence of environmental factors on their formation. One particular phenomenon – bacterial quorum sensing (QS) – allows bacteria to coordinate swarming, biofilm formation among other phenomena. Some other marine biofilm chemical cues are believed to modulate the settlement and the succession of macrofouling organisms, and they are also reviewed here. Finally, since the formation of a marine biofilm is considered to be an initial, QS‐dependent step in the development of marine fouling events, QS inhibition is discussed on its potential as a tool for antibiofouling control in marine settings.