Key Role of Transconjugants for Dissemination of the Integrative Conjugative Element ICEBs1 in Biofilms COMMENT

In this issue of the Journal of Bacteriology, J.-S. Bourassa, G. Jeannotte, S. Lebel-Beaucage, and P. B. Beauregard (J Bacteriol 204:e00181-22, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1128/jb.00181-22) showed that ICEBs1 propagation in Bacillus subtilis biofilm relies almost exclusively on transconjugants. It appears restricted to clusters of bacteria in a close neighborhood of initial donor cells, which are heterogeneously distributed in the biofilm and expand vertically toward the air-liquid interface.

Automated summary

The propagation of ICEBs1 in Bacillus subtilis biofilm depends mainly on transconjugants, which are restricted to clusters of bacteria in close proximity to initial donor cells. These clusters are heterogeneously distributed in the biofilm and expand vertically towards the air-liquid interface.