How bacteria use circadian clocks to colonize their world

Research has revealed how bacteria rely on circadian clocks to control the spread of their multicellular colonies. The findings provide important clues as to how we might improve soil health and plant growth. They may also help explain how some bacteria spread hospital-acquired infections. Researchers at the John Innes Center, University of Munich and Leiden University made the discovery while studying the widespread soil bacterium Bacillus subtilis.