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Bulletin of Environmental Contamination... Apr 2022There is increasing evidence that microbial biofilms which form on the surface of marine plastics can increase plastics palatability, making it more attractive to...
There is increasing evidence that microbial biofilms which form on the surface of marine plastics can increase plastics palatability, making it more attractive to organisms. The same information, however, does not exist for freshwater systems. This study observed the response of the freshwater amphipod Gammarus pulex when exposed to 3 cm-diameter discs of biofilm-covered plastic, both alone and when presented alongside its natural food. G. pulex did not fragment or consume the plastic materials, and the presence of colonised plastic in the immediate environment did not alter the amount of time organisms spent interacting with their natural food. This study provides baseline information for virgin and microbially colonised low-density polyethylene and polylactic acid film. Further studies, with other types of plastic possessing different physical properties and with different microbial biofilm compositions are now required to build further understanding of interactions between plastic, microbial biofilms, and freshwater shredding invertebrates.
Topics: Amphipoda; Animals; Biofilms; Fresh Water; Plastics; Polyethylene
PubMed: 34993567
DOI: 10.1007/s00128-021-03448-5 -
NPJ Biofilms and Microbiomes May 2022The increasing awareness of the significance of microbial biofilms across different sectors is continuously revealing new areas of opportunity in the development of... (Review)
Review
The increasing awareness of the significance of microbial biofilms across different sectors is continuously revealing new areas of opportunity in the development of innovative technologies in translational research, which can address their detrimental effects, as well as exploit their benefits. Due to the extent of sectors affected by microbial biofilms, capturing their real financial impact has been difficult. This perspective highlights this impact globally, based on figures identified in a recent in-depth market analysis commissioned by the UK's National Biofilms Innovation Centre (NBIC). The outputs from this analysis and the workshops organised by NBIC on its research strategic themes have revealed the breath of opportunities for translational research in microbial biofilms. However, there are still many outstanding scientific and technological challenges which must be addressed in order to catalyse these opportunities. This perspective discusses some of these challenges.
Topics: Biofilms
PubMed: 35618743
DOI: 10.1038/s41522-022-00306-y -
Drugs Oct 2019Biofilm-growing cells show an enhanced antimicrobial tolerance with respect to the same cells growing in a free-floating way. This is due to physical or chemical... (Review)
Review
Biofilm-growing cells show an enhanced antimicrobial tolerance with respect to the same cells growing in a free-floating way. This is due to physical or chemical diffusion barriers and increased transfer of resistance markers. Thus, tissue- and medical device-related biofilms can be considered among the leading sources of antibiotic treatment failure, causing many of the deadliest chronic infections afflicting humans nowadays. To find a satisfying way to counteract this major health threat, a great effort has been made in recent years to develop safe, effective and fast-acting anti-biofilm strategies. In this review, we summarise and evaluate the most promising tools and molecules that have demonstrated their ability to modulate steps involved in biofilm formation or to disperse pre-formed biofilms, without conferring evolutionary pressure to microorganisms.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Biofilms; Humans; Infections
PubMed: 31468316
DOI: 10.1007/s40265-019-01184-z -
Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Patents Dec 2020
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacteria; Biofilms; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Humans; Patents as Topic
PubMed: 32985275
DOI: 10.1080/13543776.2020.1830060 -
Critical Reviews in Microbiology Nov 2020The advent of omics technologies has greatly improved our understanding of microbial biology, particularly in the last two decades. The field of microbial biofilms is,... (Review)
Review
The advent of omics technologies has greatly improved our understanding of microbial biology, particularly in the last two decades. The field of microbial biofilms is, however, relatively new, consolidated in the 1980s. The morphogenic switching by microbes from planktonic to biofilm phenotype confers numerous survival advantages such as resistance to desiccation, antibiotics, biocides, ultraviolet radiation, and host immune responses, thereby complicating treatment strategies for pathogenic microorganisms. Hence, understanding the mechanisms governing the biofilm phenotype can result in efficient treatment strategies directed specifically against molecular markers mediating this process. The application of omics technologies for studying microbial biofilms is relatively less explored and holds great promise in furthering our understanding of biofilm biology. In this review, we provide an overview of the application of omics tools such as transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics as well as multi-omics approaches for studying microbial biofilms in the current literature. We also highlight how the use of omics tools directed at various stages of the biological information flow, from genes to metabolites, can be integrated via multi-omics platforms to provide a holistic view of biofilm biology. Following this, we propose a future artificial intelligence-based multi-omics platform that can predict the pathways associated with different biofilm phenotypes.
Topics: Artificial Intelligence; Bacteria; Biofilms; Genomics; Humans; Metabolomics
PubMed: 33030973
DOI: 10.1080/1040841X.2020.1828817 -
Biotechnology Advances 2021Biofilms can be naturally formed through the attachment of microorganisms on the supporting materials. However, natural biofilms formed in the environment may cause some... (Review)
Review
Biofilms can be naturally formed through the attachment of microorganisms on the supporting materials. However, natural biofilms formed in the environment may cause some detrimental effects, such as the equipment contamination and food safety issues et al. On the contrary, biofilms mediated microbial fermentation provides a promising approach for the efficient biochemicals production owing to the properties of self-immobilization, high resistance to toxic reactants and maintenance of long-term cells activity. While few reviews have specifically addressed the biological application of biofilms in the microbial fermentation process. Accordingly, this review will comprehensively summarize the biofilms formation mechanism and potential functions in the microbial fermentation process. Furthermore, the construction strategies for the formation of stable biofilms through synthetic biology technology or the modification of suitable supporting materials will be also discussed. The application of biofilms mediated fermentation will provide an outlook for the biorefinery platform in the future.
Topics: Biofilms; Fermentation; Synthetic Biology
PubMed: 33640404
DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2021.107724 -
World Journal of Microbiology &... Apr 2022Heavy metal pollution due to excessive use of chemical fertilizers (CF) causes major damage to the environment. Microbial biofilms, closely associated with the...
Heavy metal pollution due to excessive use of chemical fertilizers (CF) causes major damage to the environment. Microbial biofilms, closely associated with the rhizosphere can remediate heavy metal-contaminated soil by reducing plant toxicity. Thus, this study was undertaken to examine the remedial effects of microbial biofilms against contaminated heavy metals. Fungi and bacteria isolated from soil were screened for their tolerance against Cd, Pb, and Zn. Three bacterial and two fungal isolates were selected upon the tolerance index (TI) percentage. Fungal-bacterial biofilms (FBBs) were developed with the most tolerant isolates and were further screened for their bioremediation capabilities against heavy metals. The best biofilm was evaluated for its rhizoremediation capability with different CF combinations using a pot experiment conducted under greenhouse conditions with potatoes. Significantly (P < 0.05), the highest metal removal percentage was observed in Trichoderma harzianum and Bacillus subtilis biofilm under in situ conditions. When compared to the 100% recommended CF, the biofilm with 50% of the recommended CF (50CB) significantly (P < 0.05) reduced soil available Pb by 77%, Cd by 78% and Zn by 62%. In comparison to initial soil, it was 73%, 76%, and 57% lower of Pb, Cd, and Zn, respectively. In addition, 50CB treatment significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the metal penetration into the tuber tissues in comparison with 100 C. Thus, the function of the developed FBB with T. harzianum-B. subtilis can be used as a potential solution to remediate soil polluted with Pb Cd and Zn metal contaminants.
Topics: Bacteria; Biodegradation, Environmental; Biofilms; Fungi; Metals, Heavy; Soil; Soil Pollutants
PubMed: 35380298
DOI: 10.1007/s11274-022-03267-8 -
Biofouling Jul 2021Microbial biofilms are difficult to control due to the limited accessibility that antimicrobial drugs and chemicals have to the entrapped inner cells. The extracellular... (Review)
Review
Microbial biofilms are difficult to control due to the limited accessibility that antimicrobial drugs and chemicals have to the entrapped inner cells. The extracellular matrix, binds water, contributes to altered cell physiology within biofilms and act as a barrier for most antiproliferative molecules. Thus, new strategies need to be developed to overcome biofilm vitality. In this review, based on 223 documents, the advantages, recommendations, and limitations of using bacteriophages as 'biofilm predators' are presented. The plausibility of using phages (bacteriophages and mycoviruses) to control biofilms grown in different environments is also discussed. The topics covered here include recent historical experiences in biofilm control/eradication using phages in medicine, dentistry, veterinary, and food industries, the pros and cons of their use, and the development of microbial resistance/immunity to such viruses.
Topics: Bacteriophages; Biofilms
PubMed: 34304662
DOI: 10.1080/08927014.2021.1955866 -
Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology Sep 2023Heavy metal pollution caused due to various industrial and mining activities poses a serious threat to all forms of life in the environment because of the persistence... (Review)
Review
Heavy metal pollution caused due to various industrial and mining activities poses a serious threat to all forms of life in the environment because of the persistence and toxicity of metal ions. Microbial-mediated bioremediation including microbial biofilms has received significant attention as a sustainable tool for heavy metal removal as it is considered safe, effective, and feasible. The biofilm matrix is dynamic, having microbial cells as major components with constantly changing and evolving microenvironments. This review summarizes the bioremediation potential of bacterial biofilms for different metal ions. The composition and mechanism of biofilm formation along with interspecies communication among biofilm-forming bacteria have been discussed. The interaction of biofilm-associated microbes with heavy metals takes place through a variety of mechanisms. These include biosorption and bioaccumulation in which the microbes interact with the metal ions leading to their conversion from a highly toxic form to a less toxic form. Such interactions are facilitated via the negative charge of the extracellular polymeric substances on the surface of the biofilm with the positive charge of the metal ions and the high cell densities and high concentrations of cell-cell signaling molecules within the biofilm matrix. Furthermore, the impact of the anodic and cathodic redox potentials in a bioelectrochemical system (BES) for the reduction, removal, and recovery of numerous heavy metal species provides an interesting insight into the bacterial biofilm-mediated bioelectroremediation process. The review concludes that biofilm-linked bioremediation is a viable option for the mitigation of heavy metal pollution in water and ecosystem recovery.
Topics: Ecosystem; Biodegradation, Environmental; Metals, Heavy; Bacteria; Biofilms
PubMed: 36576654
DOI: 10.1007/s12010-022-04276-x -
Journal of Applied Microbiology May 2020As bacteria aggregate and form biofilms on surfaces in the human body such as tissues, indwelling medical devices, dressings and implants, they can cause a significant... (Review)
Review
As bacteria aggregate and form biofilms on surfaces in the human body such as tissues, indwelling medical devices, dressings and implants, they can cause a significant health risk. Bacterial biofilms possess altered phenotypes: physical features that facilitate antibiotic resistance and evasion of the host immune response. Since metabolic and physical factors contribute to biofilm maturation and persistence, an objective in antibiofilm therapy is to target these factors to deliver innovative approaches for solving these important health problems. Currently, there is little research on the direct immunological effects resulting from the introduction of foreign components to the body pertaining to biofilm inhibition methods. Detailed research involving animal models is necessary to better understand the biological side effects of synthetic peptides, genetically modified bacteriophages and isolated proteins and any resistance that may develop from these approaches.
Topics: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacterial Infections; Biofilms; Biological Products; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Humans; Immune Evasion
PubMed: 31618796
DOI: 10.1111/jam.14491