Bacterial Multicellularity
Bacterial Multicellularity - Related Videos
10:59
Recording Multicellular Behavior in Myxococcus xanthus Biofilms using Time-lapse Microcinematography
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Cited by 8 •
2010
To study Myxococcus xanthus swarm behavior, we have designed a time-lapse microcinematography protocol that can be modified for different assays. It employs standard growth conditions adapted for microscopy, and yields reproducible results by the use of inexpensive, reusable silicone gaskets. We have used this method to quantify multicellular chemotaxis.
09:20
Generation of Multicellular Human Primary Endometrial Organoids
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Cited by 37 •
2019
A protocol to generate human primary endometrial organoids that consist of epithelial and stromal cells and retain characteristics of the native endometrial tissue is presented. This protocol describes methods from uterine tissue acquisition to the histologic processing of endometrial organoids.
01:29
Exocrine Glands: Unicellular and Multicellular Glands
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2025
Exocrine glands are classified as unicellular and multicellular. The unicellular glands are scattered single cells, such as goblet cells, found in the mucous membranes of the small and large intestines. On the other hand, multicellular exocrine glands develop as secretory sheets, like the internal lining of the abdomen or chest. Such secretory sheets release their secretions directly into the lumen of these organs. In addition, some multicellular glands have deep-seated secretory units to...
11:24
Evaporation-reducing Culture Condition Increases the Reproducibility of Multicellular Spheroid Formation in Microtiter Plates
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Cited by 6 •
2017
The uneven loss of medium from microtiter plates affects the reproducibility of uniform multicellular tumor spheroid formation. Improving culture conditions to reduce significant medium loss will improve the reproducibility of spheroid formation and the results of spheroid-based assays using the liquid-overlay technique.
08:24
Extended Time-lapse Intravital Imaging of Real-time Multicellular Dynamics in the Tumor Microenvironment
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Cited by 25 •
2016
This protocol describes the use of multiphoton microscopy to perform extended time-lapse imaging of multicellular interactions in real time, in vivo at single cell resolution.
FAQs
Coordination arises from several linked processes rather than one mechanism. Cell-cell signaling can synchronize behavior, physical adhesion keeps neighboring cells together, and secreted extracellular polymers help build and stabilize the shared structure. Examining these components together explains how local interactions produce an organized community, rather than treating group behavior as a simple accumulation of independent bacterial cells.
Specialized cells allow a community to distribute tasks among different members. Instead of every cell performing the same role, some cells can contribute particular functions while others support different needs. This division of labor can make collective activity more efficient or resilient, giving researchers a way to connect cellular specialization with the emergence of higher-level organization in bacterial communities.
Structured communities can improve access to nutrients and increase protection from environmental stress. These advantages help explain why collective growth may support persistence when conditions are unfavorable. In infection settings, the same organization is relevant to antibiotic tolerance, because community structure and cooperation may allow bacterial populations to persist even when individual cells are exposed to harmful treatment.
Researchers can focus on observable evidence of organization: signaling between cells, adhesion, extracellular polymer secretion, community structure, and the presence of specialized cells. Linking these features to nutrient use, stress protection, or persistence helps distinguish a coordinated collective outcome from merely having many bacterial cells together. This framework also connects cellular observations with broader ecological consequences.
Biofilms provide a major research context because they show how bacterial cells can build structured communities through adhesion and extracellular polymers. Studying them can reveal how organization affects survival, nutrient use, and persistence during infection. These findings are relevant to antimicrobial research, where understanding collective properties can help inform strategies aimed at bacterial communities rather than only individual cells.
Within biology, this topic links microbial ecology with host-microbe interactions. In natural settings, coordinated communities may influence nutrient use and persistence, whereas during infection, organization can affect how bacterial populations remain established. The same principles also support biotechnology research, making bacterial multicellularity useful for studying how cooperation and collective behavior shape microbial outcomes across environments.