Figure 1.

The life-cycle of a Bacillus subtilis biofilm. This process occurs in stages which comprise the development, maturation and disassembly of the community. Motile cells with flagella differentiate into non-motile matrix-producing cells that become organized in chains and are surrounded by extracellular matrix (orange). In mature biofilms matrix-producing cells sporulate (dark brown spores). In aged biofilms, some cells secrete small molecules such as D-amino acids and polyamines that break down the extracellular matrix and the cells disperse in the environment.