Biofilms

By M. V. van Hoek. Virulence, 2013

746 citations recorded by the source corpus.

Our understanding of the virulence and pathogenesis of Francisella spp. has significantly advanced in recent years, including a new understanding that this organism can form biofilms. What is known so far about Francisella spp. biofilms is summarized here and future research questions are suggested. The molecular basis of biofilm production has begun to be studied, especially the role of extracellular carbohydrates and capsule, quorum sensing and two-component signaling systems. Further work has explored the contribution of amoebae, pili, outer-membrane vesicles, chitinases, and small molecules such as c-di-GMP to Francisella spp. biofilm formation. A role for Francisella spp. biofilm in feeding mosquito larvae has been suggested. As no strong role in virulence has been found yet, Francisella spp. biofilm formation is most likely a key mechanism for environmental survival and persistence. The significance and importance of Francisella spp.’s biofilm phenotype as a critical aspect of its microbial physiology is being developed. Areas for further studies include the potential role of Francisella spp. biofilms in the infection of mammalian hosts and virulence regulation.

Subfields: Ecology, Molecular Biology

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/2159c850614b71e669f7d9d489b9c876d521f467

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In Ecology

1. V. Kochkodan
2. N. Hilal
3. T. Mah

In Molecular Biology

1. V. Kochkodan
2. N. Hilal
3. T. Mah

Citations in the corpus

• A comprehensive review on surface modified polymer membranes for biofouling mitigation (2015, background): “Bacterial surfaces are usuallymade up of phospholipids, lipopolysaccharides, polysaccharides and proteins, all of which are charged in the pH range of most natural waters [58].”
• Bacterial biofilm formation on implantable devices and approaches to its treatment and prevention (2018, background): “Although promising, these therapies have been minimally tested in animal studies, and further investigation is required [46, 117, 126].”