Multispecies Biofilm
A biofilm is a microbial community encased in a protective matrix. Biofilms impact ecosystems and our daily life. Organic matter degradation and recycling in nature happen in biofilms. Also, biofilms are relevant in medicine and industry, with beneficial as well as problematic consequences.
In the Multispecies Biofilm Group, we study bacterial interspecies interactions in biofilms. Specifically, we are interested in identifying the functional, ecological and evolutionary impacts of such interactions. We study the underlying mechanisms of bacterial interactions and how they lead to enhanced tolerance, metabolic capacities and protection, compared to biofilms and planktonic cultures of the individual strains grown in isolation. We believe that we can only properly understand, exploit, and control multispecies biofilms, if they are explored as units.
Ongoing projects in the group:
- BioMatrix: The biofilm matrix and its functional role in the ecology of bacterial communities
- COPE: How multispecies biofilms cope with phage infections
- Hallas Møller Ascending Investigator Grant provided by the Novo Nordisk Fonden in 2023 (runs 2024-2028)
- Ronin, D., Hansen, M. F., Flaig, M. L., Dahl Dueholm, M. K., Hostrup Daugberg, A. O., Nesme, J., Kot, W. & Burmølle, M. Unfolding the collective functional potential of a synergistic multispecies community through genotypic and phenotypic analyses. Biofilm 10, 100290 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioflm.2025.100290
- Amador, C. I., Røder, H. L., Herschend, J., Neu, T. R. & Burmølle, M. Decoding the impact of interspecies interactions on biofilm matrix components. Biofilm 9, 100271 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioflm.2025.100271
- Ronin, D., Hansen, M.F. & Burmølle, M. Co‑cultivation rescues suicidal Paenibacillus amylolyticus swarms. The ISME Journal 19(1), wraf225 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1093/ismejo/wraf225
- Henriksen, N. N. S. E., Hansen, M. F., Kiesewalter, H. T., Russel, J., Nesme, J., Foster, K. R., Svensson, B., Øregaard, G., Herschend, J. & Burmølle, M. Biofilm cultivation facilitates coexistence and adaptive evolution in an industrial bacterial community. npj Biofilms and Microbiomes 8, 59 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41522-022-00323-x
- Yang, N., Røder, H. L., Wicaksono, W. A., Wassermann, B., Russel, J., Li, X., Nesme, J., Berg, G., Sørensen, S. J. & Burmølle, M. Interspecific interactions facilitate keystone species in a multispecies biofilm that promotes plant growth. The ISME Journal 18(1), wrae012 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1093/ismejo/wrae012
In the Multispecies Biofilm Group student projects are always associated to the ongoing projects and activities in the group. You will work in close collaboration with group members, addressing aspects of bacterial interspecies interactions in multispecies biofilms. You will get the opportunity to study if specific bacterial isolates cooperate or compete in biofilms and if this leads to altered or new properties of the community. Projects can also aim to identify molecular mechanisms facilitating interspecies interactions in biofilms. You can also study the role of specific biofilm matrix components, genetically engineer biofilm bacteria, or identify conditions/structural components conferring protection to bacteriophage infection or protozoan grazing.
Common techniques used:
- Biofilm model systems
- Microscopy analysis (incl. confocal microscopy)
- Quantitative image analysis
- Genetic engineering
- Genome sequencing and analysis
For more information on student projects, please contact Mette Burmølle.
Group members
| Name | Title | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amaru Miranda Djurhuus | Postdoc | +4535323281 | |
| Cristina Isabel Amador Hierro | Associate Professor | +4535334850 | |
| Ida Friberg Hitz | PhD Fellow | +4535335512 | |
| Johannes Højlund Olsen | PhD Fellow | +4535329067 | |
| Mads Frederik Hansen | Postdoc | +4535335180 | |
| Maximilian Lukas Flaig | PhD Fellow | ||
| Mette Burmølle | Professor | +4535330119 | |
| Nan Yang | Postdoc |