2.1 The near-interface sociological behavior of bacteria
According to social-microbiology theory [18], social behavior is performed by one individual. It impacts other individuals and consists of four main categories: self-interest, other-interest, double benefit, and double damage[19]. It has been suggested that the microbial periplasm is similar to a human community, in which the extracellular polymer matrix (EPS) acts as the material base and forms the house’s skeleton and bac. Bacteria inhabitants, with multiple species mix to create a microbial community. This ”inhabitant-house-community” type structure regulates the social relationships within it in a certain way, maintaining the stability and ecological function of the microbial envelope. Bacteria need to colonize and accumulate on the carrier to enable them to survive and explain their ability to adhere to the material’s surface.
”No man is an island,” and so are bacteria. In natural environments, microorganisms colonize solid surfaces or gas-liquid interfaces through free collisions and random selection. They secrete polysaccharides, proteins, lipid compounds, and nucleic acids to form EPS. In contrast, organisms are encapsulated in EPS to form microbial communities[21], often referred to as biofilms. Figures 1[22] and 2 [31] show the biofilm formation process and its composition.