Our understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in biofilm formation has increased tremendously in recent years. From research on diverse bacteria, a general model of bacterial biofilm development has emerged. This model can be adjusted to fit either of two common modes of unicellular existence: nonmotile and motile. Here we provide a detailed review of what is currently known about biofilm formation by the motile bacterium Bacillus subtilis. While the ability of bacteria to form a biofilm appears to be almost universal and overarching themes apply, the combination of molecular events necessary varies widely, and this is reflected in the other chapters of this book.
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Lemon, K.P., Earl, A.M., Vlamakis, H.C., Aguilar, C., Kolter, R. (2008). Biofilm Development with an Emphasis on Bacillus subtilis . In: Romeo, T. (eds) Bacterial Biofilms. Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology, vol 322. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-75418-3_1
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