Do Not Fear Commitment: The Initial Transition to a Surface Lifestyle by Pseudomonads

This chapter aims to describe the early stages of biofilm formation, particularly on abiotic surfaces, by focusing on Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Specifically, we will dissect the early steps in the establishment of a multicellular community: (i) translocation to the surface from a free-swimming planktonic lifestyle, (ii) initial or reversible attachment, and finally (iii) irreversible attachment. We will also compare the mechanisms used by P. aeruginosa to its related fluorescent pseudomonad cousins, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Pseudomonas putida. We argue that, for pseudomonads, irreversible attachment is the first committed step in the transition to a biofilm lifestyle.