A dynamic self-organized morphology is the hallmark of network-shaped organisms like slime moulds and fungi. Organisms continuously re-organize their flexible, undifferentiated body plans to forage for food. Among these organisms the slime mould P. polycephalum has emerged as a model to investigate how organism can self-organize their extensive networks and act as a coordinated whole. Cytoplasm...

This paper introduces Die Lebensfreude, a pioneering piece of music composed with the aid of an amoeba-like plasmodial slime mould called Physarum polycephalum. The composition is for an ensemble of five instruments (flute, clarinet, violin, cello and piano) and six channels of electronically synthesises sounds. The instrumental part and the synthesised sounds are musifications and sonification...

Collins, O. R. 1976. Heterothallism and homothallism: a study of 27 isolates of Didymium iridis, a true slime mold. Amer. J. Bot. 63: 138-143. --, and J. Clark. 1968. Genetics of plasmodial compatibility and heterokaryosis in Didymium iridis. Mycologia 60: 90-103. Ling, H., and M. Ling. 1974. Genetic control of somatic cell fusion in a myxomycete. Heredity 32: 95-104. Poulter, R., and J. Dee. 1...

Nanobacteria or living nanovesicles are of great interest to the scientific community because of their dual nature: on the one hand, they appear as primal biosystems originating life; on the other hand, they can cause severe diseases. Their survival as well as their pathogenic potential is apparently linked to a self-synthesized protein-based slime, rich in calcium and phosphate (when available...

The gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus epidermidis is the most common cause of infections associated with catheters and other indwelling medical devices. S. epidermidis produces an extracellular slime that enables it to form adherent biofilms on plastic surfaces. We found that a biofilm-releasing enzyme produced by the gram-negative periodontal pathogen Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans ...