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Journal of Medical Microbiology Apr 2015Biofilms are of great importance in infection control and healthcare-associated infections owing to their inherent tolerance and 'resistance' to antimicrobial therapies.... (Review)
Review
Biofilms are of great importance in infection control and healthcare-associated infections owing to their inherent tolerance and 'resistance' to antimicrobial therapies. Biofilms have been shown to develop on medical device surfaces, and dispersal of single and clustered cells implies a significant risk of microbial dissemination within the host and increased risk of infection. Although routine microbiological testing assists with the diagnosis of a clinical infection, there is no 'gold standard' available to reveal the presence of microbial biofilm from samples collected within clinical settings. Furthermore, such limiting factors as viable but non-culturable micro-organisms and small-colony variants often prevent successful detection. In order to increase the chances of detection and provide a more accurate diagnosis, a combination of microbiological culture techniques and molecular methods should be employed. Measures such as antimicrobial coating and surface alterations of medical devices provide promising opportunities in the prevention of biofilm formation on medical devices.
Topics: Biofilms; Cross Infection; Equipment and Supplies; Fungi; Humans; Infection Control; Mycoses
PubMed: 25670813
DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.000032 -
The Science of the Total Environment Feb 2019Microplastics are frequently detected in freshwater environments, serving as a new factitious substrate for colonization of biofilm-forming microorganisms. Distinct...
Microplastics are frequently detected in freshwater environments, serving as a new factitious substrate for colonization of biofilm-forming microorganisms. Distinct microbial assemblages between microplastics and surrounding waters have been well documented; however, there is insufficient knowledge regarding biofilm colonization of plastic and non-plastic substrates, despite the fact that microbial communities generally aggregate on natural solid surfaces. In this study, the effects of substrate type on microbial communities were evaluated by incubation of biofilms on microplastic substrates (polyethylene and polypropylene) and natural substrates (cobblestone and wood) for 21 days under controlled conditions. Results from high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA revealed that the alpha diversity (richness, evenness, and diversity) was lower in the microplastic-associated communities than in those on the natural substrates, indicating substrate-type-coupled species sorting. Distinct community structure and biofilm composition were observed between these two substrate types. Significantly higher abundances of Pirellulaceae, Phycisphaerales, Cyclobacteriaceae, and Roseococcus were observed on the microplastic substrates compared with the natural substrates. Simultaneously, the functional profiles (KEGG) predicted by Tax4Fun showed that the pathways of amino acid metabolism and metabolism of cofactors and vitamins were increased in biofilms on the microplastic substrates. The findings illustrate that microplastic acts as a distinct microbial habitat (compared with natural substrates) that could not only change the community structure but also affect microbial functions, potentially impacting the ecological functions of microbial communities in aquatic ecosystems.
Topics: Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; Biofilms; Microbiota; Phytoplankton; Plastics; Water Pollutants, Chemical
PubMed: 30292995
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.09.378 -
Molecular Oral Microbiology Dec 2022Important processes related to the interaction of the oral microbiome with the tooth surface happen directly at the interface. For example, the chemical microenvironment... (Review)
Review
Important processes related to the interaction of the oral microbiome with the tooth surface happen directly at the interface. For example, the chemical microenvironment that exists at the interface of microbial biofilms and the native tooth structure is directly involved in caries development. Consequentially, a critical understanding of this interface and its chemical microenvironment would provide novel avenues in caries prevention, including secondary caries that often occurs at the interface of the dental biofilm, tooth structure, and dental material. Electrochemical sensors are a unique quantitative tool and have the inherent advantages of miniaturization, stability, and selectivity. That makes the electrochemical sensors ideal tools for studying these critical biofilm microenvironments with high precision. This review highlights the development and applications of several novel electrochemical sensors such as pH, Ca , and hydrogen peroxide sensors as scanning electrochemical microscope probes in addition to flexible pH wire sensors for real-time bacterial biofilm-dental surface and dental materials interface studies.
Topics: Humans; Biocompatible Materials; Biofilms; Dental Caries; Tooth; Bacteria
PubMed: 36300593
DOI: 10.1111/omi.12396 -
World Journal of Microbiology &... Aug 2020In natural environments, microorganisms form microbial aggregates called biofilms able to adhere to a multitude of different surfaces. Yeasts make no exception to this... (Review)
Review
In natural environments, microorganisms form microbial aggregates called biofilms able to adhere to a multitude of different surfaces. Yeasts make no exception to this rule, being able to form biofilms in a plethora of environmental niches. In food realms, yeast biofilms may cause major problems due to their alterative activities. In addition, yeast biofilms are tenacious structures difficult to eradicate or treat with the current arsenal of antifungal agents. Thus, much effort is being made to develop novel approaches to prevent and disrupt yeast biofilms, for example through the use of natural antimicrobials or small molecules with both inhibiting and dispersing properties. The aim of this review is to provide a synopsis of the most recent literature on yeast biofilms regarding: (i) biofilm formation mechanisms; (ii) occurrence in food and in food-related environments; and (iii) inhibition and dispersal using natural compounds, in particular.
Topics: Antifungal Agents; Biofilms; Food; Food Microbiology; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Yeasts
PubMed: 32776210
DOI: 10.1007/s11274-020-02911-5 -
Biotechnology Journal Oct 2020Certain microbial biofilm in the human-microbiota community can negatively impact the host microbiome. This gives rise to various methods to prevent the formation of... (Review)
Review
Certain microbial biofilm in the human-microbiota community can negatively impact the host microbiome. This gives rise to various methods to prevent the formation of biofilms or to facilitate biofilm dispersal from surfaces and tissues in the host. Despite all these efforts, these persistent microbial biofilms on surfaces and in the host tissue can result in health problems to the host and its microbiome. It is the adaptive behavior of microbes within the biofilm that confers on these tenacious microbes the resistance to harsh environments, antibiotic treatments, and the ability to evade the host immune system. In this review, the approaches to combat microbial biofilm in the last decade are discussed. The biochemical pathway regulating biofilm formation is first discussed, followed by the discussion of the three approaches to combat biofilm formation: physical, chemical, and biological approaches. The advances in these approaches have given rise to methods of effectively dispersing the microbial biofilm and preventing the adherence of these microbial communities altogether. As there are numerous approaches to target biofilm, in this review the attempt is to provide insights on how these approaches have been used to modulate the host-microbiome by looking at the individual strengths and weaknesses.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacteria; Biofilms; Homeostasis; Humans; Microbiota
PubMed: 32510869
DOI: 10.1002/biot.201900320 -
Memorias Do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz Jul 2018Biofilm formation is the preferred mode of growth lifestyle for many microorganisms, including bacterial and fungal human pathogens. Biofilm is a strong and dynamic... (Review)
Review
Biofilm formation is the preferred mode of growth lifestyle for many microorganisms, including bacterial and fungal human pathogens. Biofilm is a strong and dynamic structure that confers a broad range of advantages to its members, such as adhesion/cohesion capabilities, mechanical properties, nutritional sources, metabolite exchange platform, cellular communication, protection and resistance to drugs (e.g., antimicrobials, antiseptics, and disinfectants), environmental stresses (e.g., dehydration and ultraviolet light), host immune attacks (e.g., antibodies, complement system, antimicrobial peptides, and phagocytes), and shear forces. Microbial biofilms cause problems in the hospital environment, generating high healthcare costs and prolonged patient stay, which can result in further secondary microbial infections and various health complications. Consequently, both public and private investments must be made to ensure better patient management, as well as to find novel therapeutic strategies to circumvent the resistance and resilience profiles arising from biofilm-associated microbial infections. In this work, we present a general overview of microbial biofilm formation and its relevance within the biomedical context.
Topics: Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; Biofilms; Environmental Microbiology; Fungi; Humans
PubMed: 30066753
DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760180212 -
Microbial Pathogenesis Jul 2024The escalating threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a grave concern to global public health, exacerbated by the alarming shortage of effective antibiotics in... (Review)
Review
The escalating threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a grave concern to global public health, exacerbated by the alarming shortage of effective antibiotics in the pipeline. Biofilms, intricate populations of bacteria encased in self-produced matrices, pose a significant challenge to treatment, as they enhance resistance to antibiotics and contribute to the persistence of organisms. Amid these challenges, nanotechnology emerges as a promising domain in the fight against biofilms. Nanomaterials, with their unique properties at the nanoscale, offer innovative antibacterial modalities not present in traditional defensive mechanisms. This comprehensive review focuses on the potential of nanotechnology in combating biofilms, focusing on green-synthesized nanoparticles and their associated anti-biofilm potential. The review encompasses various aspects of nanoparticle-mediated biofilm inhibition, including mechanisms of action. The diverse mechanisms of action of green-synthesized nanoparticles offer valuable insights into their potential applications in addressing AMR and improving treatment outcomes, highlighting novel strategies in the ongoing battle against infectious diseases.
Topics: Biofilms; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacteria; Virulence; Nanostructures; Nanoparticles; Humans; Nanotechnology; Drug Resistance, Bacterial
PubMed: 38815775
DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2024.106722 -
Journal of Food Protection May 2021Contamination of beer arises in 50% of all events at the late stages of production, in the filling area. This is where biofilms, a consortia of microorganisms embedded...
ABSTRACT
Contamination of beer arises in 50% of all events at the late stages of production, in the filling area. This is where biofilms, a consortia of microorganisms embedded in a matrix composed of extracellular polymeric substances, play a critical role. To date, most studies have focused on the presence of (biofilm-forming) microorganisms in the filling environment. Our aim was to characterize the microbial status as well as the presence of possible biofilms at a can filling line for beer by determining the presence of microorganisms and their associated matrix components (carbohydrates, proteins and extracellular DNA [eDNA]). For 23 sampling sites, targeted quantitative PCR confirmed the presence of microorganisms at 10 sites during operation and at 3 sites after cleaning. The evaluation of carbohydrates, eDNA, and proteins showed that 16 sites were positive for at least one component during operation and 4 after cleaning. We identified one potential biofilm hotspot, namely the struts below the filler, harboring high loads of bacteria and yeast, eDNA, carbohydrates, and proteins. The protein pattern was different from that of beer. This work deepens our understanding of biofilms and microorganisms found at the filling line of beer beverages at sites critical for production.
Topics: Bacteria; Beer; Biofilms; DNA, Bacterial; Extracellular Polymeric Substance Matrix
PubMed: 33411903
DOI: 10.4315/JFP-20-368 -
Acta Orthopaedica Apr 2015Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) still remains a significant problem. In line with the forecasted rise in joint replacement procedures, the number of cases of PJI is... (Review)
Review
Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) still remains a significant problem. In line with the forecasted rise in joint replacement procedures, the number of cases of PJI is also anticipated to rise. The formation of biofilm by causative pathogens is central to the occurrence and the recalcitrance of PJI. The subject of microbial biofilms is receiving increasing attention, probably as a result of the wide acknowledgement of the ubiquity of biofilms in the natural, industrial, and clinical contexts, as well as the notorious difficulty in eradicating them. In this review, we discuss the pertinent issues surrounding PJI and the challenges posed by biofilms regarding diagnosis and treatment. In addition, we discuss novel strategies of prevention and treatment of biofilm-related PJI.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacteriophages; Biofilms; Deoxyribonuclease I; Humans; Joint Prosthesis; Prosthesis-Related Infections
PubMed: 25238433
DOI: 10.3109/17453674.2014.966290 -
Letters in Applied Microbiology Aug 2022The United Nations suggests the global population of denture wearers (an artificial device that acts as a replacement for teeth) is likely to rise significantly by the... (Review)
Review
The United Nations suggests the global population of denture wearers (an artificial device that acts as a replacement for teeth) is likely to rise significantly by the year 2050. Dentures become colonized by microbial biofilms, the composition of which is influenced by complex factors such as patient's age and health, and the nature of the denture material. Since colonization (and subsequent biofilm formation) by some micro-organisms can significantly impact the health of the denture wearer, the study of denture microbiology has long been of interest to researchers. The specific local and systemic health risks of denture plaque are different from those of dental plaque, particularly with respect to the presence of the opportunist pathogen Candida albicans and various other nonoral opportunists. Here, we reflect on advancements in our understanding of the relationship between micro-organisms, dentures, and the host, and highlight how our growing knowledge of the microbiome, biofilms, and novel antimicrobial technologies may better inform diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of denture-associated infections, thereby enhancing the quality and longevity of denture wearers.
Topics: Anti-Infective Agents; Biofilms; Candida albicans; Dentures; Humans; Microbiota
PubMed: 35634756
DOI: 10.1111/lam.13751