Microbial Biofilms: from Ecology to Molecular Genetics

Abstract

SUMMARY Biofilms are complex communities of microorganisms attached to surfaces or associated with interfaces. Despite the focus of modern microbiology research on pure culture, planktonic (free-swimming) bacteria, it is now widely recognized that most bacteria found in natural, clinical, and industrial settings persist in association with surfaces. Furthermore, these microbial communities are often composed of multiple species that interact with each other and their environment. The determination of biofilm architecture, particularly the spatial arrangement of microcolonies (clusters of cells) relative to one another, has profound implications for the function of these complex communities. Numerous new experimental approaches and methodologies have been developed in order to explore metabolic interactions, phylogenetic groupings, and competition among members of the biofilm. To complement this broad view of biofilm ecology, individual organisms have been studied using molecular genetics in order to identify the genes required for biofilm development and to dissect the regulatory pathways that control the plankton-to-biofilm transition. These molecular genetic studies have led to the emergence of the concept of biofilm formation as a novel system for the study of bacterial development. The recent explosion in the field of biofilm research has led to exciting progress in the development of new technologies for studying these communities, advanced our understanding of the ecological significance of surface-attached bacteria, and provided new insights into the molecular genetic basis of biofilm development.

Efficacy of 7‐benzyloxyindole and other halogenated indoles to inhibit Candida albicans biofilm and hyphal formation

“…Pathogenic bacteria and fungi are protected by this three‐dimensional matrix, which confers them with high tolerance to antimicrobials. (Costerton et al ., 1999; Davey and O'Toole G, 2000) . Candida albicans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen and causes systemic infections predominantly by contaminating implant devices such as pacemakers, endotracheal tubes, contact lenses, penile implants, intrauterine devices and catheters (Ramage et al ., 2005; Sardi et al ., 2013).…”

Phototrophic periphyton techniques combine phosphorous removal and recovery for sustainable salt-soil zone

“…Commonly, phototrophic periphyton is coated in the surfaces of the substrates (such as sediments, cobbles, macrophytes and woody debris) of an aquatic system (Davey & O'toole, 2000), it can be described as the surface attached microbial communities which is driven by light energy with a photosynthetic component (Roeselers et al, 2008). It is composed of multilayered consortia of photoautotrophs (e.g., unicellular and filamentous cyanobacteria, benthic diatoms and green microalgae) and heterotrophs (bacteria, fungi and protozoa) and is also dominated by more photoautotrophic microorganisms (Guzzon et al, 2008).…”

Biopelícula extrarradicular: reporte de un caso clínico

“…Por otra parte, estas infecciones son difícil-mente resueltas por el sistema inmune del hospedero; incluso, dicha respuesta es capaz de ocasionar daños en los tejidos en vecindad a las biopelículas [20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27].…”