Bacterial infections are a re-emerging threat of critical concern for health agencies as the rise of antimicrobial resistance continues essentially unchecked across the globe. A common key determinant of the outcome of infection is production of biofilm. This material, which is structured communities of bacterial cells encased in a matrix of extracellular polysaccharides, lipids, and/or DNA, is a significant contributor to the virulence. Importantly, biofilm communities can be comprised of either single or multiple species, adding considerable diversity to their structure and nature.
A better understanding of microbial biofilm's function and regulation during infection would facilitate finding effective treatment strategies and promote health. Biofilms serve several purposes, including restricting bacterial exposure to antibacterials, disinfectants, and immune effectors (or other potentially undesirable chemical entities), improving attachment and resisting removal, and facilitating infection of a broad range of host niches. Synthesis of biofilms is a complex activity, frequently occurring in the context of quorum-signaling and other population-dependent phenomena. The quorum-signaling and biofilm-forming capacities of within and between several bacterial species are well-known and frequent targets for developing new therapeutic strategies. Despite this, challenges remain in targeting these pathways and effectively modulating their function.
This Research Topic aims to publish Original Research papers, Reviews, or Mini-Reviews focusing on biofilm's roles in bacterial infection. We welcome manuscripts that address all aspects of bacterial biofilm, including but not limited to the formation, prevention, and eradication of biofilm and its roles in infectious diseases. Of particular interest are papers discussing approaches that will modulate biofilm as a therapeutic strategy, including by preventing the signaling events that often precede its production, changing or compromising its production, or mechanisms for its dispersal or destruction after it has formed. Appropriate papers for this topic may range from basic research on these systems to translational reports on the effectiveness of these treatments in model systems or human infection.
Bacterial infections are a re-emerging threat of critical concern for health agencies as the rise of antimicrobial resistance continues essentially unchecked across the globe. A common key determinant of the outcome of infection is production of biofilm. This material, which is structured communities of bacterial cells encased in a matrix of extracellular polysaccharides, lipids, and/or DNA, is a significant contributor to the virulence. Importantly, biofilm communities can be comprised of either single or multiple species, adding considerable diversity to their structure and nature.
A better understanding of microbial biofilm's function and regulation during infection would facilitate finding effective treatment strategies and promote health. Biofilms serve several purposes, including restricting bacterial exposure to antibacterials, disinfectants, and immune effectors (or other potentially undesirable chemical entities), improving attachment and resisting removal, and facilitating infection of a broad range of host niches. Synthesis of biofilms is a complex activity, frequently occurring in the context of quorum-signaling and other population-dependent phenomena. The quorum-signaling and biofilm-forming capacities of within and between several bacterial species are well-known and frequent targets for developing new therapeutic strategies. Despite this, challenges remain in targeting these pathways and effectively modulating their function.
This Research Topic aims to publish Original Research papers, Reviews, or Mini-Reviews focusing on biofilm's roles in bacterial infection. We welcome manuscripts that address all aspects of bacterial biofilm, including but not limited to the formation, prevention, and eradication of biofilm and its roles in infectious diseases. Of particular interest are papers discussing approaches that will modulate biofilm as a therapeutic strategy, including by preventing the signaling events that often precede its production, changing or compromising its production, or mechanisms for its dispersal or destruction after it has formed. Appropriate papers for this topic may range from basic research on these systems to translational reports on the effectiveness of these treatments in model systems or human infection.