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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.