Electrochemical communication in biofilm of bacterial community

Sounik Manna, Chandan Ghanty, Piyush Baindara, Tarun K.R. Barik, Santi M. Mandal

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

Electrochemical communication during biofilm formation has recently been identified. Bacteria within biofilm-adopt different strategies for electrochemical communication such as direct contact via membrane-bound molecules, diffusive electron transfer via soluble redox-active molecules, and ion channel-mediated long-range electrochemical signaling. Long-range electrical signals are important to communicate with distant members within the biofilm, which function through spatially propagating waves of potassium ion (K+) that depolarizes neighboring cells. During propagation, these waves coordinate between the metabolic states of interior and peripheral cells of the biofilm. The understanding of electrochemical communication within the biofilm may provide new strategies to control biofilm-mediated drug resistance. Here, we summarized the different mechanisms of electrochemical communication among bacterial populations and suggested its possible role in the development of high level of antibiotic resistance. Thus, electrochemical signaling opens a new avenue concerning the electrophysiology of bacterial biofilm and may help to control the biofilm-mediated infection by developing future antimicrobials.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)819-827
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Basic Microbiology
Volume60
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Oct 2020
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Wiley-VCH GmbH

Keywords

  • antibiotic resistance
  • bacterial biofilm
  • electrochemical signaling
  • membrane potential

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