Extracellular Matrix of Microbial Biofilms

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Biofilm".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2024) | Viewed by 164

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Microbial Technology Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
Interests: biofilms; cell behavior; Myxococcus xanthus; antimicrobial agents; Acinetobacter baumanni; Streptococcus mutans; motility; extracellular matrix

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In both natural and artificial ecosystems, microbial cells have the remarkable ability to aggregate and embed themselves in a complex extracellular matrix (ECM), ultimately forming highly organized and structured biofilms which adhere to biotic and abiotic surfaces or suspend within the fluid as flocs. As a self-protective survival strategy in response to environmental stresses, biofilms play a crucial role in the survival of microbes under hostile conditions and have significant impacts on human life. The ECM serves as a physical substratum crucial for maintaining the architecture of biofilms, and it typically consists of a mixture of exopolysaccharides, proteins, nucleic acids, and other components. The ECM provides numerous benefits to the cells within the biofilm (such as acting as a molecular glue to facilitate cell adhesion; conferring protection from various stresses; maintaining structural integrity; establishing nutrient and waste product gradients; and participating in cell–cell communication, migration, or genetic exchange).

This Special Issue aims to provide a multidisciplinary platform for scholars to share valuable information about recent findings (both basic and applied) on the ECM of microbial biofilms. Special emphasis will be placed on the basic components of the ECM, organization and architectures, macromolecular interactions, construction processes, biological and physiological functions, its potential as a target for biofilm control, and analysis methodologies, among other things.

Original research articles, short communications, and reviews are warmly welcomed for submission.

Prof. Dr. Wei Hu
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • microbial cells
  • extracellular matrix
  • cell adhesion
  • microbial biofilms

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Published Papers

There is no accepted submissions to this special issue at this moment.
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