Journal ArticleDOI
Biofilm Formation as Microbial Development
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TLDR
The results reviewed in this article indicate that the formation of biofilms serves as a new model system for the study of microbial development.Abstract:
▪ Abstract Biofilms can be defined as communities of microorganisms attached to a surface. It is clear that microorganisms undergo profound changes during their transition from planktonic (free-swimming) organisms to cells that are part of a complex, surface-attached community. These changes are reflected in the new phenotypic characteristics developed by biofilm bacteria and occur in response to a variety of environmental signals. Recent genetic and molecular approaches used to study bacterial and fungal biofilms have identified genes and regulatory circuits important for initial cell-surface interactions, biofilm maturation, and the return of biofilm microorganisms to a planktonic mode of growth. Studies to date suggest that the planktonic-biofilm transition is a complex and highly regulated process. The results reviewed in this article indicate that the formation of biofilms serves as a new model system for the study of microbial development.read more
Citations
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Antibiotic resistance of bacteria in biofilms
TL;DR: The features of biofilm infections are summarized, the emerging mechanisms of resistance are reviewed, and potential therapies are discussed.
Journal ArticleDOI
Microbial Biofilms: from Ecology to Molecular Genetics
Mary E. Davey,George A. O'Toole +1 more
TL;DR: 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 the authors' understanding of the ecological significance of surface-attached bacteria, and provided new insights into the molecular genetic basis ofBiofilm development.
Journal ArticleDOI
Biofilms as complex differentiated communities.
TL;DR: It is submitted that complex cell-cell interactions within prokaryotic communities are an ancient characteristic, the development of which was facilitated by the localization of cells at surfaces, which may have provided the protective niche in which attached cells could create a localized homeostatic environment.
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Understanding biofilm resistance to antibacterial agents.
TL;DR: The mechanisms that underlie biofilm resistance to antimicrobial chemotherapy will be examined, with particular attention being given to potential avenues for the effective treatment of biofilms.
Journal ArticleDOI
Riddle of Biofilm Resistance
TL;DR: The nature of bacterial biofilm resistance to antimicrobials is the subject of the present minireview and describes an increased resistance of cells to killing.
References
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Journal ArticleDOI
Bacterial biofilms : A common cause of persistent infections
TL;DR: Improvements in understanding of the genetic and molecular basis of bacterial community behavior point to therapeutic targets that may provide a means for the control of biofilm infections.
Journal ArticleDOI
The involvement of cell-to-cell signals in the development of a bacterial biofilm
David G. Davies,Matthew R. Parsek,Matthew R. Parsek,Matthew R. Parsek,James P. Pearson,James P. Pearson,James P. Pearson,Barbara H. Iglewski,Barbara H. Iglewski,Barbara H. Iglewski,J. W. Costerton,J. W. Costerton,J. W. Costerton,E. P. Greenberg,E. P. Greenberg,E. P. Greenberg +15 more
TL;DR: The involvement of an intercellular signal molecule in the development of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms suggests possible targets to control biofilm growth on catheters, in cystic fibrosis, and in other environments where P. aerug inosaBiofilms are a persistent problem.
Journal ArticleDOI
Flagellar and twitching motility are necessary for Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm development
George A. O'Toole,Roberto Kolter +1 more
TL;DR: The isolation and characterization of mutants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14 defective in the initiation of biofilm formation on an abiotic surface, polyvinylchloride (PVC) plastic are reported and evidence that microcolonies form by aggregation of cells present in the monolayer is presented.
Journal ArticleDOI
Initiation of biofilm formation in Pseudomonas fluorescens WCS365 proceeds via multiple, convergent signalling pathways: a genetic analysis
George A. O'Toole,Roberto Kolter +1 more
TL;DR: The genetic analyses suggest that biofilm formation can proceed via multiple, convergent signalling pathways, which are regulated by various environmental signals, and that of the 24 sad mutants analysed in this study, only three had defects in genes of known function.
Journal ArticleDOI
Microbial pathogenesis in cystic fibrosis: mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Burkholderia cepacia.
John R. W. Govan,Vojo Deretic +1 more
TL;DR: This review summarizes the latest advances in understanding host-pathogen interactions in CF with an emphasis on the role and control of conversion to mucoidy in P. aeruginosa and B. cepacia.