Marine Biofilms: A Successful Microbial Strategy With Economic Implications

Carvalho, Carla C. C. R. de

doi:10.3389/fmars.2018.00126

Cited by 238 publications

(159 citation statements)

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“…The gathered information on microbial colonization of aquatic environments can provide useful baseline findings on the different susceptibilities to biofouling of a variety of artificial materials and on the environmental variables that control biofilm formation. Considering the high economic costs caused by marine biofilms to many sectors including maritime transport, aquaculture, oil and gas industries, desalination plants and other activities [2,127], the relevance of marine biofilms in multiple research fields appears evident.…”

Section: Future Research Directionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microbial Colonization in Marine Environments: Overview of Current Knowledge and Emerging Research Topics

Caruso¹

2020

JMSE

115

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Microbial biofilms are biological structures composed of surface-attached microbial communities embedded in an extracellular polymeric matrix. In aquatic environments, the microbial colonization of submerged surfaces is a complex process involving several factors, related to both environmental conditions and to the physical-chemical nature of the substrates. Several studies have addressed this issue; however, more research is still needed on microbial biofilms in marine ecosystems. After a brief report on environmental drivers of biofilm formation, this study reviews current knowledge of microbial community attached to artificial substrates, as obtained by experiments performed on several material types deployed in temperate and extreme polar marine ecosystems. Depending on the substrate, different microbial communities were found, sometimes highlighting the occurrence of species-specificity. Future research challenges and concluding remarks are also considered. Emphasis is given to future perspectives in biofilm studies and their potential applications, related to biofouling prevention (such as cell-to-cell communication by quorum sensing or improved knowledge of drivers/signals affecting biological settlement) as well as to the potential use of microbial biofilms as sentinels of environmental changes and new candidates for bioremediation purposes.

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Section: Future Research Directionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microbial Colonization in Marine Environments: Overview of Current Knowledge and Emerging Research Topics

Caruso¹

2020

JMSE

115

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“…Biofilm formation accelerates the rate of corrosion causing structural damage to the pipes. 8,9 Microbiologically induced corrosion (MIC) costs huge amounts of money every year toward its maintenance and enhance head loss in the distribution channel. 10 The biofilm acts as a safe haven for these pathogenic bacteria where they are able to survive.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Seasonal Variation on Bacterial Inhabitants and Diversity in Drinking Water of an Office Building, Delhi

Yadav

Singh

Goyal

2019

Air, Soil and Water Research

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The work reported in this article raises some serious concern about the drinking water quality and its standards. Mere presence or absence of an indicator organism does not assure that the water is safe for drinking purposes. Instead of infecting directly, many pathogens pass through a host and retrieve their virulent properties by causing diseases/infections in humans. Pathogenic bacteria which exist in aquatic habitats show a unique and peculiar pattern of appearing or reappearing in different microenvironments. Several factors that prevail in the water system make a safe house for the growth, proliferation, and colonization of microorganisms. In our case, 6 different microenvironments inside the premises of an office building were taken as the sampling sites to study the effect of seasonal variations (summer, monsoon, and post-monsoon/winter) on bacterial diversity and inhabitants. Results suggested that the presence of total and thermotolerant coliforms were highest in the monsoon followed by summer and post-monsoon/winter seasons. To know the bacterial diversity and pattern of appearance/reappearance prevailing in the water system, bacterial strains were analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing which showed Pseudomonas putida to be the predominant identified bacterial strain occurring about 38% to 77% in all 3 seasons. This was followed by Lelliottia nimipressuralis (6%-21%), Escherichia coli (4%-18%), Salmonella typhimurium and Aeromonas dhakensis (4%-10% each), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (5%-6%). Despite the absence of other opportunistic bacteria, P putida was reported to be present as a single organism in water coolers and dispensers. This might be due to the persistent nature of P putida in low-nutrient environments and capable of colonizing by forming a rigid biofilm inside the water cooler/dispenser which makes a conducive environment for it.

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“…It is estimated that about 80% of microbial infections were associated with biofilm formation which plays a key role in the pathogenesis and confers on the associated bacteria great resistance to conventional antimicrobial agents 10,11 . The formation of marine biofilms also leads to serious economic loss for various industries such as heat exchange, oil and gas processing, and the maritime industry 12,13 . Physical removal, high-intensity and sustained antimicrobial chemotherapy, and surface coatings are the few antibiofilm strategies available 14 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, in most cases, these strategies are either costly or toxic to the marine environment. Also, the required high dosage of bactericides for biofilm eradication promotes the development of widespread antimicrobial resistance 12,14,15 . Therefore, efficient, safe, environmentally friendly and cost-effective biofilm control approaches are urgently needed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A potent antibiofilm agent inhibits and eradicates mono- and multi-species biofilms

Long

Wang

Chiang

et al. 2020

Preprint

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18Biofilms are surface-attached multicellular communities that create many problems in 19 human health and various industries. Given the prominence of biofilms in biofouling 20 and infectious diseases, antibiofilm control approaches are highly sought after. In the 21 present study, we identified elasnin as a potent antibiofilm agent through a bioassay-22 guided approach. Elasnin specifically inhibited the biofilm formation of bacterial 23 mono-species and eradicated the mature biofilm of Gram-positive bacteria at 24 concentrations below 2.5 μg/mL with a low toxic effect on cells and a low resistance 25 risk. Confocal observations illustrated that elasnin decreased cell aggregations and 26 destroyed the biofilm matrix. Furthermore, elasnin-based antibiofilm coatings were 27 prepared and inhibited the formation of multi-species biofilms and the attachment of 28 large biofouling organisms in the field test. These findings suggest that elasnin is a 29 promising antibiofilm agent for future applications in biofilm control. 30 31 Importance 32 Due to the increased diversity of biofilm-associated infections and the failure of 33 conventional antimicrobial treatment, new and effective biofilm-specific 34 pharmacologic strategies are urgently needed. Elasnin is a new antibiofilm natural 35 product produced by Streptomyces with high efficiency and low toxicity. Elasnin 36 effectively destroyed the biofilm matrix of Gram-positive bacteria, thus making them 37 more susceptible to antibiotics. Unlike currently deployed antibiotic vancomycin, 38 which exclusively targets essential life processes and kills the pathogen, elasnin did not 39 3 exhibit bactericidal effect and thus held great potential in delaying resistance. With high 40 yield, elasnin-based coatings were easily prepared with low expenditures and exhibited 41 favorable performance in field test. Collectively, the antibiofilm properties of elasnin, 42 combined with the low cost of supply and the low risk of resistance, could provide the 43 basis for the development of a novel antibiofilm agent that could help fight to antibiotics 44 resistance. 45 46 A biofilm is a microorganism community attached to a surface 1 . It consists of 49 microbial cells massed in the matrix of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), which 50 contain a large variety of biopolymers such as proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and other 51 substances 2 . Biofilms can be made up of a single microbial species or multiple species 52 that colonize biotic or abiotic surfaces 3,4 . The elaborate biofilm architecture provides a 53shield to the microbes in biofilms and offers them the spatial proximity and internal 54 homeostasis needed for growth and differentiation 3-5 . This makes microbial cells much 55 more resistant than their planktonic counterparts to diverse external insults such as 56 antimicrobial treatment, poisons, protozoans, and host immunity 6,7 . For example, 57 biofilms can render organisms 10-to 1000-fold less susceptible to antimicrobial agents; 58 furthermore, organisms in mult...

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Marine Biofilms: A Successful Microbial Strategy With Economic Implications

Cited by 238 publications

References 126 publications

Microbial Colonization in Marine Environments: Overview of Current Knowledge and Emerging Research Topics

Microbial Colonization in Marine Environments: Overview of Current Knowledge and Emerging Research Topics

Effect of Seasonal Variation on Bacterial Inhabitants and Diversity in Drinking Water of an Office Building, Delhi

A potent antibiofilm agent inhibits and eradicates mono- and multi-species biofilms

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