Antibiotic Resistance in Biofilm: 2nd Edition

Dear Colleagues,

Biofilm is a complex group of microorganisms that attaches to solid surfaces in humid environments. It is characterized by structural heterogeneity, genetic diversity, complex interactions, and an extracellular matrix of polymeric substances. Biofilm provides the component microorganisms for certain nutrients, trace elements, and water, and helps to protect against harmful factors, including biocides. Thus, biofilm is commonly found in the food industry, as well as in wet processing conditions (e.g., dairy products, slaughterhouses, meat-processing plants, beverages industry, etc.), and can act as a reservoir for germs with pathogenic potential for humans and animals.

Both pathogenic and non-pathogenic microorganisms can be embedded in biofilm structures. Occasionally, parts of the biofilm may be removed and spread in moist environments, resulting in subsequent contamination of other surfaces.

Bacteria embedded in biofilm are more resistant to antimicrobials compared to planktonic cells. The increase in bacterial resistance to antibiotics is due to several mechanisms. One of these is the different structure of the internal biofilm, which generates the unequal diffusion of antimicrobials. Consequently, bacterial cells will be exposed to different concentrations of antibiotics, depending on their spatial location, which favors the selection of cells with mutational antimicrobial resistance. Another factor is the increase in conjugation frequency due to the proximity of the cells in the biofilm structures, enhancing the spread of antibiotic resistance. 

In this Special Issue, advances in understanding the role of bacterial biofilms in antibiotic resistance in the food industry and the necessary control strategies will be presented.

This Special Issue's first edition was a great achievement. We are now inviting you to contribute to the second edition. (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/life/special_issues/Biofilm_life).

Dr. Adriana Morar
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Life is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• biofilm
• food industry
• antimicrobial resistance
• antibiotic resistance gene transfer
• antibiofilm activity
• control strategies