Bacillus biofilm formation and niche adaptation shape long-distance transported dust microbial community

Long-distance microbial transport via dust events is projected to intensify globally. However, survival mechanisms of air- and dust-borne bacteria and their contribution to global processes remain poorly understood. In this study, we characterized Bacillus species from transitional season dust storm...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Communications earth & environment Vol. 6; no. 1; pp. 551 - 11
Main Authors: Lang-Yona, Naama, Lahav, Ella, Levy Barazany, Hilit, Salti, Talal, Rahamim- Ben Navi, Liat, Murugan, Prem Anand, Kolodkin-Gal, Ilana
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 12.07.2025
Nature Publishing Group
Nature Portfolio
Subjects:
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Adaptation
Aquatic ecology
Bacillus
Bacteria
Biofilms
Climate change
Dust
Dust storms
Earth and Environmental Science
Earth Sciences
Environment
Gene expression
Identification
Microbiomes
Microbiota
Microorganisms
Microscopy
Morphology
Niches
Phylogenetics
Survival
ISSN:2662-4435, 2662-4435
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Long-distance microbial transport via dust events is projected to intensify globally. However, survival mechanisms of air- and dust-borne bacteria and their contribution to global processes remain poorly understood. In this study, we characterized Bacillus species from transitional season dust storms, previously identified as a significant component of the bioactive community of the dust microbiome. Our results demonstrated substantial growth and surface-associated biofilm formation diversification, linked to niche adaptation within heterogeneous dust particles. Most dust isolates formed biofilms while showing varying preferences for media composition under standard laboratory conditions, extreme temperatures, and low humidity. Sterile dust stimulated biofilm formation, growth, and matrix gene expression of B. subtilis , leading to robust biofilm development in key related dust isolates. This effect surpassed that of inorganic, synthetic dust, representing a role for organic substrates from decayed dust-community members. Overall, these findings offer direct evidence that biofilm formation serves as an adaptive mechanism in the unique habitat of dust particles, suggesting that niche adaptation may play a role in microbial survival across dust storms. These results hold significant implications for terrestrial and aquatic ecology and health, suggesting a pivotal process by which bacteria survive and evolve in this understudied habitat. Bacillus forms airborne biofilms as an adaptive mechanism to survive transport in dust storms, according to analysis of airborne dust storm samples.
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ISSN:2662-4435
2662-4435
DOI:10.1038/s43247-025-02534-4