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Journal of Molecular Biology Jul 2019The human oral cavity harbors diverse communities of microbes that live as biofilms: highly ordered, surface-associated assemblages of microbes embedded in an... (Review)
Review
The human oral cavity harbors diverse communities of microbes that live as biofilms: highly ordered, surface-associated assemblages of microbes embedded in an extracellular matrix. Oral microbial communities contribute to human health by fine-tuning immune responses and reducing dietary nitrate. Dental caries and periodontal disease are together the most prevalent microbially mediated human diseases worldwide. Both of these oral diseases are known to be caused not by the introduction of exogenous pathogens to the oral environment, but rather by a homeostasis breakdown that leads to changes in the structure of the microbial communities present in states of health. Both dental caries and periodontal disease are mediated by synergistic interactions within communities, and both diseases are further driven by specific host inputs: diet and behavior in the case of dental caries and immune system interactions in the case of periodontal disease. Changes in community structure (taxonomic identity and abundance) are well documented during the transition from health to disease. In this review, changes in biofilm physical structure during the transition from oral health to disease and the concomitant relationship between structure and community function will be emphasized.
Topics: Bacteria; Biofilms; Dental Caries; Dental Plaque; Diet; Homeostasis; Humans; Periodontal Diseases
PubMed: 31103772
DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2019.05.016 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2023Bacterial biofilms are complex microbial communities encased in extracellular polymeric substances. Their formation is a multi-step process. Biofilms are a significant... (Review)
Review
Bacterial biofilms are complex microbial communities encased in extracellular polymeric substances. Their formation is a multi-step process. Biofilms are a significant problem in treating bacterial infections and are one of the main reasons for the persistence of infections. They can exhibit increased resistance to classical antibiotics and cause disease through device-related and non-device (tissue) -associated infections, posing a severe threat to global health issues. Therefore, early detection and search for new and alternative treatments are essential for treating and suppressing biofilm-associated infections. In this paper, we systematically reviewed the formation of bacterial biofilms, associated infections, detection methods, and potential treatment strategies, aiming to provide researchers with the latest progress in the detection and treatment of bacterial biofilms.
Topics: Humans; Biofilms; Bacteria; Bacterial Infections; Extracellular Polymeric Substance Matrix; Anti-Bacterial Agents
PubMed: 37091673
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1137947 -
Current Protocols in Microbiology Jul 2005Many bacteria can exist as surface-attached aggregations known as biofilms. Presented in this unit are several approaches for the study of these communities. The focus...
Many bacteria can exist as surface-attached aggregations known as biofilms. Presented in this unit are several approaches for the study of these communities. The focus here is on static biofilm systems, which are particularly useful for examination of the early stages of biofilm formation, including initial adherence to the surface and microcolony formation. Furthermore, most of the techniques presented are easily adapted to the study of biofilms under a variety of conditions and are suitable for either small- or relatively large-scale studies. Unlike assays involving continuous-flow systems, the static biofilm assays described here require very little specialized equipment and are relatively simple to execute. In addition, these static biofilm systems allow analysis of biofilm formation with a variety of readouts, including microscopy of live cells, macroscopic visualization of stained bacteria, and viability counts. Used individually or in combination, these assays provide useful means for the study of biofilms.
Topics: Bacteria; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; Bacteriological Techniques; Biofilms; Microbial Viability; Microscopy
PubMed: 18770545
DOI: 10.1002/9780471729259.mc01b01s00 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jul 2022It is estimated that <0 [...]
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Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Biofilms; Microbial Sensitivity Tests
PubMed: 35887278
DOI: 10.3390/ijms23147932 -
Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection... 2019Biofilm is a complex structure of microbiome having different bacterial colonies or single type of cells in a group; adhere to the surface. These cells are embedded in... (Review)
Review
Biofilm is a complex structure of microbiome having different bacterial colonies or single type of cells in a group; adhere to the surface. These cells are embedded in extracellular polymeric substances, a matrix which is generally composed of eDNA, proteins and polysaccharides, showed high resistance to antibiotics. It is one of the major causes of infection persistence especially in nosocomial settings through indwelling devices. Quorum sensing plays an important role in regulating the biofilm formation. There are many approaches being used to control infections by suppressing its formation but CRISPR-CAS (gene editing technique) and photo dynamic therapy (PDT) are proposed to be used as therapeutic approaches to subside bacterial biofim infections, especially caused by deadly drug resistant bad bugs.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacterial Infections; Biofilms; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Humans; Microbiota; Photochemotherapy; Quorum Sensing
PubMed: 31131107
DOI: 10.1186/s13756-019-0533-3 -
Biotechnology and Bioengineering May 2008For more than two decades, Biotechnology and Bioengineering has documented research focused on natural and engineered microbial biofilms within aquatic and subterranean... (Review)
Review
For more than two decades, Biotechnology and Bioengineering has documented research focused on natural and engineered microbial biofilms within aquatic and subterranean ecosystems, wastewater and waste-gas treatment systems, marine vessels and structures, and industrial bioprocesses. Compared to suspended culture systems, intentionally engineered biofilms are heterogeneous reaction systems that can increase reactor productivity, system stability, and provide inherent cell:product separation. Unwanted biofilms can create enormous increases in fluid frictional resistances, unacceptable reductions in heat transfer efficiency, product contamination, enhanced material deterioration, and accelerated corrosion. Missing from B&B has been an equivalent research dialogue regarding the basic molecular microbiology, immunology, and biotechnological aspects of medical biofilms. Presented here are the current problems related to medical biofilms; current concepts of biofilm formation, persistence, and interactions with the host immune system; and emerging technologies for controlling medical biofilms.
Topics: Bacterial Adhesion; Bacterial Infections; Biofilms; Bioreactors; Disinfection; Equipment Contamination; Humans; Sterilization
PubMed: 18366134
DOI: 10.1002/bit.21838 -
ACS Sensors Feb 2022Microbial biofilms have caused serious concerns in healthcare, medical, and food industries because of their intrinsic resistance against conventional antibiotics and... (Review)
Review
Microbial biofilms have caused serious concerns in healthcare, medical, and food industries because of their intrinsic resistance against conventional antibiotics and cleaning procedures and their capability to firmly adhere on surfaces for persistent contamination. These global issues strongly motivate researchers to develop novel methodologies to investigate the kinetics underlying biofilm formation, to understand the response of the biofilm with different chemical and physical treatments, and to identify biofilm-specific drugs with high-throughput screenings. Meanwhile microbial biofilms can also be utilized positively as sensing elements in cell-based sensors due to their strong adhesion on surfaces. In this perspective, we provide an overview on the connections between sensing and microbial biofilms, focusing on tools used to investigate biofilm properties, kinetics, and their response to chemicals or physical agents, and biofilm-based sensors, a type of biosensor using the bacterial biofilm as a biorecognition element to capture the presence of the target of interest by measuring the metabolic activity of the immobilized microbial cells. Finally we discuss possible new research directions for the development of robust and rapid biofilm related sensors with high temporal and spatial resolutions, pertinent to a wide range of applications.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacteria; Biofilms; Biosensing Techniques
PubMed: 35171575
DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.1c02722 -
Annals of the American Thoracic Society Sep 2016Microbial biofilms can colonize medical devices and human tissues, and their role in microbial pathogenesis is now well established. Not only are biofilms ubiquitous in... (Review)
Review
Microbial biofilms can colonize medical devices and human tissues, and their role in microbial pathogenesis is now well established. Not only are biofilms ubiquitous in natural and human-made environments, but they are also estimated to be associated with approximately two-thirds of nosocomial infections. This multicellular aggregated form of microbial growth confers a remarkable resistance to killing by antimicrobials and host defenses, leading biofilms to cause a wide range of subacute or chronic infections that are difficult to eradicate. We have gained tremendous knowledge on the molecular, genetic, microbiological, and biophysical processes involved in biofilm formation. These insights now shape our understanding, diagnosis, and management of many infectious diseases and direct the development of novel antimicrobial therapies that target biofilms. Bacterial and fungal biofilms play an important role in a range of diseases in pulmonary and critical care medicine, most importantly catheter-associated infections, ventilator-associated pneumonia, chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in cystic fibrosis lung disease, and Aspergillus fumigatus pulmonary infections.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacteria; Biofilms; Catheter-Related Infections; Critical Illness; Cross Infection; Cystic Fibrosis; Humans; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated
PubMed: 27348071
DOI: 10.1513/AnnalsATS.201603-194FR -
Nature Reviews. Microbiology Apr 2016Streams and rivers form dense networks, shape the Earth's surface and, in their sediments, provide an immensely large surface area for microbial growth. Biofilms... (Review)
Review
Streams and rivers form dense networks, shape the Earth's surface and, in their sediments, provide an immensely large surface area for microbial growth. Biofilms dominate microbial life in streams and rivers, drive crucial ecosystem processes and contribute substantially to global biogeochemical fluxes. In turn, water flow and related deliveries of nutrients and organic matter to biofilms constitute major constraints on microbial life. In this Review, we describe the ecology and biogeochemistry of stream biofilms and highlight the influence of physical and ecological processes on their structure and function. Recent advances in the study of biofilm ecology may pave the way towards a mechanistic understanding of the effects of climate and environmental change on stream biofilms and the biogeochemistry of stream ecosystems.
Topics: Biodiversity; Biofilms; Ecology; Ecosystem; Geologic Sediments; Rivers
PubMed: 26972916
DOI: 10.1038/nrmicro.2016.15 -
Biological Chemistry Nov 2020Biofilms are a ubiquitous mode of microbial life and display an increased tolerance to different stresses. Inside biofilms, cells may experience both externally applied... (Review)
Review
Biofilms are a ubiquitous mode of microbial life and display an increased tolerance to different stresses. Inside biofilms, cells may experience both externally applied stresses and internal stresses that emerge as a result of growth in spatially structured communities. In this review, we discuss the spatial scales of different stresses in the context of biofilms, and if cells in biofilms respond to these stresses as a collection of individual cells, or if there are multicellular properties associated with the response. Understanding the organizational level of stress responses in microbial communities can help to clarify multicellular functions of biofilms.
Topics: Bacteria; Biofilms; Humans; Stress, Physiological
PubMed: 32990640
DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2020-0213