Unhealthy Change: Diversity in a bacterial colony can prolong infections

Researchers have long known that diversification strengthens large groups, from the stocks in a winning portfolio to the wildflowers in a field. New findings suggest that the same idea applies to bacterial communities and may explain why some infections are notoriously difficult to treat.

SLIME BALL. Varied bacterial types in this Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm keep the colony growing in the face of anti-infective agents.