Bistability and Formation of the Biofilm Matrix as Adaptive Mechanisms during the Stationary Phase of Bacillus subtilis

Bacilli control behavioral reactions such as motility, biofilm formation, production of enzymes and metabolites, differentiation, and others by integrating a variety of environmental signals through a complex regulatory network. In the natural environment, Bacillus subtilis exists predominantly in the form of biofilms, which has made it an ideal model for studying the molecular strategy of biofilm formation. This paper systematizes information on the main regulatory systems responsible for the loss of mobility and the formation of B. subtilis biofilms, analyzes the behavior of bacteria within the biofilm population, leading to a state of bistability and differentiation into different types of subpopulations. It also evaluates the regulatory relationship between control systems responsible for the synthesis of structural components in the biofilm matrix. Particular emphasis is placed on data concerning signaling mechanisms that trigger the formation of a biofilm and its dispersion. In general, we summarize information about the latest discoveries in this area and their integration into the general idea of these complex microbial communities.