AUTHOR=Jiang Zhaowei , Nero Thomas , Mukherjee Sampriti , Olson Rich , Yan Jing 

TITLE=Searching for the Secret of Stickiness: How Biofilms Adhere to Surfaces

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2021.686793

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2021.686793

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>Bacterial biofilms are communities of cells enclosed in an extracellular polymeric matrix in which cells adhere to each other and to foreign surfaces. The development of a biofilm is a dynamic process that involves multiple steps, including cell-surface attachment, matrix production, and population expansion. Increasing evidence indicates that biofilm adhesion is one of the main factors contributing to biofilm-associated infections in clinics and biofouling in industrial settings. This review focuses on describing biofilm adhesion strategies among different bacteria, including <italic>Vibrio cholerae</italic>, <italic>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</italic>, and <italic>Staphylococcus aureus</italic>. Techniques used to characterize biofilm adhesion are also reviewed. An understanding of biofilm adhesion strategies can guide the development of novel approaches to inhibit or manipulate biofilm adhesion and growth.</p>