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Every year, billions of tons of dust is whipped up into the atmosphere—carrying more than just particles. These dust clouds transport bacteria and fungi around the world.

Recent research shows that Bacillus bacteria may survive dust storms not only by forming spores, but also by building biofilms—protective communities that help them grow and persist in harsh conditions.

In lab experiments, dust-associated Bacillus isolates formed biofilms under conditions associated with dust storms, like high heat and low humidity. Dust itself boosted biofilm gene expression and bacterial growth.

Mutants lacking biofilm matrix proteins struggled to colonize dust, revealing that these proteins are essential for survival.

This study suggests biofilms are key to microbial life on dust, potentially shaping ecosystems and influencing health.

Watch Microbial Minutes for the full story https://youtu.be/3q-rhw17h2o

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