Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Science 19 March 1999:
Vol. 283. no. 5409, pp. 1837 - 1839
DOI: 10.1126/science.283.5409.1837
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

News Focus

MICROBIOLOGY:
Forging a Link Between Biofilms and Disease

Carol Potera

The sticky conglomerations of bacteria known as biofilms are being linked to common human diseases ranging from tooth decay to prostatitis and kidney infections. Aided by support from a new program at the National Institutes of Health, researchers are now working to understand how and why biofilms form. The goal is to identify their Achilles' heel and devise better treatments, which are badly needed, because bacteria sequestered in biofilms are shielded from attack by the host's immune system and are often much harder to kill with antibiotics than their free-floating counterparts.

Read the Full Text


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Escherichia coli and its lipopolysaccharide modulate in vitro Candida biofilm formation.
H. M. H. N. Bandara, J. Y. Y. Yau, R. M. Watt, L. J. Jin, and L. P. Samaranayake (2009)
J. Med. Microbiol. 58, 1623-1631
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Increased Antibiotic Resistance of Escherichia coli in Mature Biofilms.
A. Ito, A. Taniuchi, T. May, K. Kawata, and S. Okabe (2009)
Appl. Envir. Microbiol. 75, 4093-4100
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Reduced Biocide Susceptibility in Candida albicans Biofilms.
J. E. Nett, K. M. Guite, A. Ringeisen, K. A. Holoyda, and D. R. Andes (2008)
Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 52, 3411-3413
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Cell Density and Cell Aging as Factors Modulating Antifungal Resistance of Candida albicans Biofilms.
C. J. Seneviratne, L. J. Jin, Y. H. Samaranayake, and L. P. Samaranayake (2008)
Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 52, 3259-3266
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Efficacy of common hospital biocides with biofilms of multi-drug resistant clinical isolates.
K. Smith and I. S. Hunter (2008)
J. Med. Microbiol. 57, 966-973
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Biofilm formation by Scottish clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus.
K. Smith, A. Perez, G. Ramage, D. Lappin, C. G. Gemmell, and S. Lang (2008)
J. Med. Microbiol. 57, 1018-1023
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Inhibition of Escherichia coli Biofilm Formation by Self-Assembled Monolayers of Functional Alkanethiols on Gold.
S. Hou, E. A. Burton, K. A. Simon, D. Blodgett, Y.-Y. Luk, and D. Ren (2007)
Appl. Envir. Microbiol. 73, 4300-4307
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Putative Role of {beta}-1,3 Glucans in Candida albicans Biofilm Resistance.
J. Nett, L. Lincoln, K. Marchillo, R. Massey, K. Holoyda, B. Hoff, M. VanHandel, and D. Andes (2007)
Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 51, 510-520
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Biofilm Surface Area in the Pediatric Nasopharynx: Chronic Rhinosinusitis vs Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
J. Coticchia, G. Zuliani, C. Coleman, M. Carron, J. Gurrola II, M. Haupert, and R. Berk (2007)
Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 133, 110-114
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Demonstration of Bacterial Cells and Glycocalyx in Biofilms on Human Tonsils.
R. E. Kania, G. E. M. Lamers, M. J. Vonk, P. T. B. Huy, P. S. Hiemstra, G. V. Bloemberg, and J. J. Grote (2007)
Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 133, 115-121
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Putative Surface Proteins Encoded within a Novel Transferable Locus Confer a High-Biofilm Phenotype to Enterococcus faecalis.
P. M. Tendolkar, A. S. Baghdayan, and N. Shankar (2006)
J. Bacteriol. 188, 2063-2072
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Autoinducer 2 Controls Biofilm Formation in Escherichia coli through a Novel Motility Quorum-Sensing Regulator (MqsR, B3022).
A. F. Gonzalez Barrios, R. Zuo, Y. Hashimoto, L. Yang, W. E. Bentley, and T. K. Wood (2006)
J. Bacteriol. 188, 305-316
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Capsular Polysaccharide Surrounds Smooth and Rugose Types of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium DT104.
C. E. de Rezende, Y. Anriany, L. E. Carr, S. W. Joseph, and R. M. Weiner (2005)
Appl. Envir. Microbiol. 71, 7345-7351
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
cDNA Microarray Analysis of Differential Gene Expression in Candida albicans Biofilm Exposed to Farnesol.
Y.-Y. Cao, Y.-B. Cao, Z. Xu, K. Ying, Y. Li, Y. Xie, Z.-Y. Zhu, W.-S. Chen, and Y.-Y. Jiang (2005)
Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 49, 584-589
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Development and Characterization of an In Vivo Central Venous Catheter Candida albicans Biofilm Model.
D. Andes, J. Nett, P. Oschel, R. Albrecht, K. Marchillo, and A. Pitula (2004)
Infect. Immun. 72, 6023-6031
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Candida Infections of Medical Devices.
E. M. Kojic and R. O. Darouiche (2004)
Clin. Microbiol. Rev. 17, 255-267
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
In Vitro and In Vivo Antibacterial Activities of DK-507k, a Novel Fluoroquinolone.
T. Otani, M. Tanaka, E. Ito, Y. Kurosaka, Y. Murakami, K. Onodera, T. Akasaka, and K. Sato (2003)
Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 47, 3750-3759
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
A computer investigation of chemically mediated detachment in bacterial biofilms.
S. M. Hunt, M. A. Hamilton, J. T. Sears, G. Harkin, and J. Reno (2003)
Microbiology 149, 1155-1163
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Differential Regulation of Twitching Motility and Elastase Production by Vfr in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
S. A. Beatson, C. B. Whitchurch, J. L. Sargent, R. C. Levesque, and J. S. Mattick (2002)
J. Bacteriol. 184, 3605-3613
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Investigation of multidrug efflux pumps in relation to fluconazole resistance in Candida albicans biofilms.
G. Ramage, S. Bachmann, T. F. Patterson, B. L. Wickes, and J. L. Lopez-Ribot (2002)
J. Antimicrob. Chemother. 49, 973-980
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Mucosal Biofilm Formation on Middle-Ear Mucosa in the Chinchilla Model of Otitis Media.
G. D. Ehrlich, R. Veeh, X. Wang, J. W. Costerton, J. D. Hayes, F. Z. Hu, B. J. Daigle, M. D. Ehrlich, and J. C. Post (2002)
JAMA 287, 1710-1715
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Multidrug Efflux Pumps: Expression Patterns and Contribution to Antibiotic Resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilms.
T. R. De Kievit, M. D. Parkins, R. J. Gillis, R. Srikumar, H. Ceri, K. Poole, B. H. Iglewski, and D. G. Storey (2001)
Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 45, 1761-1770
   Abstract »    Full Text »
Streptococcus parasanguis Fimbria-Associated Adhesin Fap1 Is Required for Biofilm Formation.
E. H. Froeliger and P. Fives-Taylor (2001)
Infect. Immun. 69, 2512-2519
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Role of Antibiotic Penetration Limitation in Klebsiella pneumoniae Biofilm Resistance to Ampicillin and Ciprofloxacin.
J. N. Anderl, M. J. Franklin, and P. S. Stewart (2000)
Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 44, 1818-1824
   Abstract »    Full Text »
Identification of a novel gene, fimV, involved in twitching motility in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
A. B. T. Semmler, C. B. Whitchurch, A. J. Leech, and J. S. Mattick (2000)
Microbiology 146, 1321-1332
   Abstract »    Full Text »
A Dose-Response Study of Antibiotic Resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilms.
A. Brooun, S. Liu, and K. Lewis (2000)
Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 44, 640-646
   Abstract »    Full Text »


To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)