Co-zorbs: Motile, multispecies biofilms aid transport of diverse bacterial species

Abstract

Biofilms are three-dimensional structures containing one or more bacterial species embedded in extracellular polymeric substances. Although most biofilms are stationary, Flavobacterium johnsoniae forms a motile spherical biofilm called a zorb, which is propelled by its base cells and contains a polysaccharide core. Here, we report the formation of spatially organized, motile, multispecies biofilms, designated “co-zorbs,” that are distinguished by a core–shell structure. F. johnsoniae forms zorbs whose cells collect other bacterial species and transport them to the zorb core, forming a co-zorb. Live imaging revealed that co-zorbs also form in zebrafish, thereby demonstrating a different type of bacterial movement in vivo. This finding opens different avenues for understanding community behaviors, the role of biofilms in bulk bacterial transport, and collective strategies for microbial success in various environments.