---
title: Abstract
order: 1
container: header
---

*[Achnanthidium minutissimum](http://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=Ge79396858528c750)* is a benthic freshwater diatom that forms biofilms on submerged surfaces in aquatic environments. Within these biofilms, *A. minutissimum* cells produce extracellular structures which facilitate substrate adhesion, such as stalks and capsules. Both consist of extracellular polymeric substance (EPS), but the microstructure and development stages of the capsules are so far unknown, despite a number of hypotheses about their function, including attachment and protection. We coupled scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to bright-field microscopy (BFM) and found that *A. minutissimum* capsules mostly possess an unstructured surface. However, capsule material that was mechanically stressed by being stretched between or around cells displayed fibrillar substructures. Fibrils were also found on the frustules of non-encapsulated cells, implicating that *A. minutissimum* capsules may develop from fibrillar precursors. Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy revealed that the capsule material does not contain silicon, distinguishing it from the frustule material. We furthermore show that bacteria preferentially attach to capsules, instead of non-encapsulated *A. minutissimum* cells, which supports the idea that capsules mediate diatom-bacteria interactions.

Test Test Test

---
title: Abstract
order: 1
container: header
---

*[Achnanthidium minutissimum](http://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=Ge79396858528c750)* is a benthic freshwater diatom that forms biofilms on submerged surfaces in aquatic environments. Within these biofilms, *A. minutissimum* cells produce extracellular structures which facilitate substrate adhesion, such as stalks and capsules. Both consist of extracellular polymeric substance (EPS), but the microstructure and development stages of the capsules are so far unknown, despite a number of hypotheses about their function, including attachment and protection. We coupled scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to bright-field microscopy (BFM) and found that *A. minutissimum* capsules mostly possess an unstructured surface. However, capsule material that was mechanically stressed by being stretched between or around cells displayed fibrillar substructures. Fibrils were also found on the frustules of non-encapsulated cells, implicating that *A. minutissimum* capsules may develop from fibrillar precursors. Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy revealed that the capsule material does not contain silicon, distinguishing it from the frustule material. We furthermore show that bacteria preferentially attach to capsules, instead of non-encapsulated *A. minutissimum* cells, which supports the idea that capsules mediate diatom-bacteria interactions.

Revert "static site generator demo"
Revert "static site generator demo"

This reverts commit a8c1c0e0bd5fc3d00a25f5e6f048e763052f7b86.
