Figure 6.

Long‐range and contact‐dependent communication in B. subtilis. A. Long‐range metabolic signalling occurs in developing biofilm communities and results in oscillations between growth and growth inhibition. B. Contact‐dependent communication between B. subtilis and other cells (either B. subtilis or other species) occurs using nanotubes. Cytoplasmic contents can be moved from donor to recipient cells, while small nutrient molecules can be extracted from the prey cell by the predator, demonstrating bidirectional movement of molecules.