Microbial biofilms
In most natural, clinical and industrial settings, microorganisms exist in biofilms that associate with biotic and abiotic surfaces. These three-dimensional single-species or polymicrobial communities are embedded in a self-produced matrix that enables the intercellular exchange of metabolites, genetic material and signalling molecules. In addition, these microbial consortia provide protection against predators and antimicrobial agents, and they are widely studied owing to their clinical relevance, their ubiquitous nature and the functional insights that they provide into microbial ecology. Although most natural biofilms are polymicrobial, much has been learned about the basic biology of these communities through the study of single-species biofilms using model bacteria; however, the field is currently experiencing a paradigm shift and is moving towards the study of multi-species communities in an effort to learn more about competitive and cooperative microbial behaviour.
In this series of articles, Nature Reviews Microbiology explores the fascinating insights into biofilm ecology, the molecular mechanisms and regulation of biofilm formation, and the emerging physiological properties of this universal microbial lifestyle.
2018
January Vol 16 No 1
Development and regulation of single- and multi-species Candida albicans biofilms
Matthew B. Lohse, Megha Gulati, Alexander D. Johnson & Clarissa J. Nobile
2017
December Vol 15 No 12
Targeting microbial biofilms: current and prospective therapeutic strategies
Hyun Koo, Raymond N. Allan, Robert P. Howlin, Paul Stoodley & Luanne Hall-Stoodley
2016
September Vol 14 No 9
Biofilms: an emergent form of bacterial life
Hans-Curt Flemming, Jost Wingender, Ulrich Szewzyk, Peter Steinberg, Scott A. Rice & Staffan Kjelleberg
September Vol 14 No 9
Spatial structure, cooperation and competition in biofilms
Carey D. Nadell, Knut Drescher & Kevin R. Foster
April Vol 14 No 4
The ecology and biogeochemistry of stream biofilms
Tom J. Battin, Katharina Besemer, Mia M. Bengtsson, Anna M. Romani & Aaron I. Packmann
February Vol 14 No 2
The biogeography of polymicrobial infection
Apollo Stacy, Luke McNally, Sophie E. Darch, Sam P. Brown & Marvin Whiteley
2015
May 2015 Vol 13 No 5
Living in the matrix: assembly and control of Vibrio cholerae biofilms
Jennifer K. Teschler, David Zamorano-Sánchez, Andrew S. Utada, Christopher J. A. Warner, Gerard C. L. Wong, Roger G. Linington & Fitnat H. Yildiz