微生物被膜(Biofilm)的社会学特征

Sociological characteristics of biofilms

微生物被膜(biofilm)是一类具有高复杂性和高自组织特性的生物结构,由多种微生物(细菌、古菌、藻类、微小真核生物)和生物基质(多糖、蛋白、脂肪酸等)组成,具有特定的组织结构和生态学功能,在微生物定殖、生态位构建和环境适应性上具有重要作用.许多微生物行为,如病原感染、毒素产生、耐药能力、生物污损以及管网堵塞等都与微生物被膜的存在有关.这些事件的形成充斥着多样化的微生物行为,包括信号交流,合作/竞争、劳动分工以及逆境环境下的"菌工智能"等.这些特征越来越多地显示出Biofilm的社会学特性,而这一特性也提供了深入认识Biofilm的新视角.据此,以Biofilm的3D结构为基础,以膜内的通讯语言、协作方式,以及智能化的抗逆表现(环境应激、协同进化)为重点来阐述它的社会学特征,以期更好地认识Biofilm的属性,加深对微生物社会学的认识.

Biofilms are a kind of biological structure with high complexity and self-organization, composed of a variety of microorganisms（bacteria, archaea, algae, and micro eukaryotes） and biological substrates（polysaccharides, proteins, fatty acids, etc.）. They own special structures and ecological functions, and play important roles in microbial colonization, niche construction and environmental adaptability. Many microorganisms＇ behaviors, such as pathogenic infection, toxin production, drug resistance, biofouling and pipe blockage, are related with biofilms. The formation of these events is full of various microbial behaviors, including signal communication, cooperation/competition, division of labor, as well as ＂bacteria intelligence＂ under the adverse circumstances. These features offer further indication of the sociological attributes of biofilms, which also provide a new insight into them. Thus, based on the 3D structure of biofilms, we took the communication language, collaboration, and intelligent resistance（environmental stress, coevolution） inside biofilms as the core to elaborate their social characteristics, in order to get a better understanding of their nature and sociomicrobiology.