Molecular Research on Biofilm Formation

Dear Colleagues,

Biofilms are immobile microbial communities that represent 3D agglomerations of microorganisms, in which bacteria are adhered to each other and to a surface by means of a self-produced matrix of bacterial secreted extracellular polymeric substances, such as exopolysaccharides (EPS), extracellular DNA (e-DNA), proteins and amyloidogenic proteins. Such biofilms represent highly pliable systems that allow their inhabitants to adapt to environmental conditions and tolerate antibiotics, host defense systems, and other external stresses, such as desiccation, nutrient scarcity, mechanical and shear forces, osmolarity, and pH. Biofilms are formed via a set of well-regulated multi-step events, and cell-to-cell communication, signaling, and coordination within the biofilm are conducted via quorum sensing, where the regulation of the expression of specific genes is driven by the accumulation of signaling molecules in the extracellular environment. Biofilms are related to the pathogenesis of biofilm diseases in the auditory, cardiovascular, digestive, integumentary, reproductive, respiratory, and urinary systems. Furthermore, bacterial biofilms play crucial roles in antimicrobial resistance. Therefore, understanding the peculiarities of biofilm biogenesis is crucial for the development of effective treatment strategies for such infections.

Prof. Dr. Vladimir N. Uversky
Guest Editor

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