Greetings from @ESA's operations centre in Germany, where we're following the launch of #BepiColombo together with mission experts. The spacecraft are on the launch pad at Europe's #Spaceport in Kourou & in just over 1 hour will blast off into space. Destination: planet #Mercury

#BepiColombo is a collaboration between @ESA and @JAXA_en to explore the innermost planet in our Solar System. For a primer on #Mercury and the mission, here's a useful thread 👇
https://t.co/eagfXx3eDz
And for a unique "first-person" account, follow the three spacecraft accounts: @ESA_Bepi, @JAXA_MMO & @ESA_MTM
https://t.co/Qek2GqelXp
NOW! Join us for #live coverage of the #BepiColombo launch, from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. Liftoff with an #Ariane5 rocket is set for 01:45 GMT (03:45 CEST)

📺 https://t.co/Z1mcQc6u1U
Meanwhile, at @ESA's operations centre, #BepiColombo deputy project scientist, Joe Zender, @ESA research fellow Joana Oliveira and #INAF researcher Roberto Peron are discussing aspects of @ESA_Bepi #science with #media representatives
Why go to #Mercury? The question we’re all interested is actually about Earth and life in general: how did it start? To address this question, we have to understand the formation & evolution of our Solar System, so we send spacecraft to explore planets & investigate #BepiColombo
"We have a problem with #Mercury..." because it’s falling out of our overall understanding of the Solar System. We don't understand how such a planet could have formed and evolved, so we not only need to send outstanding instruments there: we send a full laboratory #BepiColombo
Now Prof Ayako Matsuoka from @JAXA_en and the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS), Japan, explains the details about @JAXA_MMO #science and how it will work together with @ESA_Bepi to study another of #Mercury's mysteries: its magnetic field
Fifteen minutes to liftoff! Then #BepiColombo will start its 7-year journey to #Mercury, using solar-electric propulsion + a total of 9 flybys before reaching the planet in late 2025, as explained by Amedeo Rocchi from @esaoperations flight dynamics 👍
✅ #BepiColombo
https://t.co/xfOwnIxBBw
https://t.co/Ryoa4R53AH
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Liftoff! #BepiColombo
https://t.co/N9bXqwZtv7
Relive the moments of #BepiColombo liftoff while we wait for acquisition of signal...
https://t.co/IwFB9bEce6
https://t.co/7MkJbvE6SN
👍 #BepiColombo
https://t.co/dyjGcQc1E6
https://t.co/nxIvBJCpYw
https://t.co/7fUkCQVLFi
We know from telemetry that the #BepiColombo solar arrays have been deployed, but stay tuned for a #SpaceSelfie later today by @ESA_MTM 📷
@ESA_MTM Following this morning's launch 🚀🛰️ our mission teams are still busy with many #BepiColombo activities, so keep following @esaoperations @ESA_Bepi @ESA_MTM @JAXA_MMO for updates over the weekend
https://t.co/2VTAANwMmK
Thanks to all of you for joining this evening / night / morning to follow the launch of our #BepiColombo mission to #Mercury 👋
#ICYMI Watch the full replay
🎥 https://t.co/F4YbBXN8ci

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Microorganisms in biofilms are enclosed by an extracellular matrix that confers protection and improves survival. Previous studies have shown that viruses can secondarily colonize preexisting biofilms, and viral biofilms have also been described.


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Biofilms can also enhance virion viability in extracellular environments, such as on fomites and in aquatic sediments, allowing viral persistence and dissemination.