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Biofilm diversity

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Biofilms are structured communities of microorganisms adhering to surfaces in a range of different environments. The diversity within these biofilms, encompassing a multitude of different species, plays a vital role in shaping ecosystem functions, microbial interactions, and human health. Understanding biofilm diversity is essential for numerous fields, including environmental science, medicine, and biotechnology. In environmental contexts, their diversity contributes to the resilience and adaptability of ecosystems facing environmental changes and disturbances. In medicine, studying biofilm diversity may help develop more effective strategies for combating biofilm-associated infections. In biotechnology, harnessing the diverse metabolic capabilities of biofilm communities holds promise for applications in wastewater treatment, bioremediation, and bioenergy production.

This Collection welcomes submissions of original research articles that focus on characterising biofilm diversity and the range of functions this conveys. Submissions from the fields of microbiology, genetics and biotechnology are encouraged.

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Close up of 3D microscopic blue bacteria

Editors

  • Sung-Hwan Choi, D.D.S, PhD , 

    Sung-Hwan Choi, D.D.S, PhD

    Associate Professor, Department of Orthodontics, Institute of Craniofacial Deformity, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, Republic of Korea

  • Joseph O. Falkinham, III PhD  &

    Joseph O. Falkinham, III PhD

    Emeritus Professor of Microbiology, Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA

  • Sueli Fumie Yamada-Ogatta, PhD

    Sueli Fumie Yamada-Ogatta, PhD

    Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology, State University of Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil

Sung-Hwan Choi, D.D.S, PhD, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, Republic of Korea

Sung-Hwan Choi is an Associate Professor at the Department of Orthodontics, at Yonsei University College of Dentistry. He has been awarded the Young Researcher Award by the Korean Dental Association, the Young Researcher Award by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Republic of Korea (2019), the Gold Prize of the 17th Yeonsong Dental Award by the Korean Academy of Dental Science (2021), and the Grand Prize of the 3rd MINEC Academic Award by the Korean Academy of Dental Science (2023). His research activities include biofilm-resistant biomaterials with antifouling and microbiome homeostasis for the oral-gut axis. Dr. Choi has been working as an Editorial Board Member of Scientific Reports since 2024.

 

Joseph O. Falkinham, III PhD, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA

Joseph Falkinham has been studying the ecology, physiology, and genetics of the nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) since 1975; primarily members of the Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC). Initial environmental surveys established that the MAC were present in natural soils and waters and entered municipal drinking water systems through water treatment plants. Those surveys were complemented by documentation of MAC resistance to disinfection, growth in drinking water, growth under stagnant conditions, and their preference for attachment to plumbing surfaces (biofilm formation). Those characteristics lead to the colonization and persistence of MAC in home and hospital plumbing. MAC and other NTM cells are surrounded by a thick, lipid-rich outer membrane that is a major determinant of their resistance to disinfection and antibiotics. Those NTM characteristics are also seen in other waterborne opportunistic pathogens, such as Legionella and Pseudomonas. Recognition of those common characteristics led Dr. Falkinham to the writing of the book, “Opportunistic Premise Plumbing Pathogens” to describe those shared features. Prof. Falkinham has been an Editorial Board Member for Scientific Reports since 2019.

 

Sueli Fumie Yamada-Ogatta, PhD, University of Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil

Sueli Fumie Yamada-Ogatta is an Associate Professor and Research Coordinator of the Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Microorganisms – BioMMLab - at the Department of Microbiology of the State University of Londrina, Paraná, Brazil. Her research interests include studies on mechanisms of microbial biofilm formation, as well as the discovery of new molecules/compounds of natural or synthetic origin with antibiofilm activity. Professor Yamada-Ogatta has been an Editorial Board Member for Scientific Reports since 2019.