The architecture of microbial societies: spatiality, cooperation and the emergence of biofilms
Résumé
This conference will examine how spatial organisation, cooperative interactions and phenotypic diversification shape the structure and function of microbial biofilms. Focusing on their three-dimensional architecture, we will explore how spatial patterning drives emergent properties such as stress tolerance, antimicrobial resistance and functional specialisation. Case studies will illustrate how microbial communities adapt to different environments - from food industry surfaces to space habitats - and how advanced imaging techniques reveal their dynamic behaviour in situ. Particular attention will be paid to the dual nature of biofilms: as persistent reservoirs of pathogens in food safety contexts, and as potential allies in biocontrol strategies and microbial engineering. By exploring the architecture of microbial communities, this talk aims to highlight the central role of spatial reasoning in understanding and manipulating microbiomes across disciplines.