Biofilms: Extracellular Bastions of Bacteria
Alan W. Decho (Ed.)
Biofilms: Extracellular Bastions of Bacteria - MDPI - Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute 2014 - 1 electronic resource (300 p.)
Open Access
Biofilms are attached forms of bacteria and other microorganisms enclosed in a matrix of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), and comprise a microbial lifestyle that is quite different from that of free-living planktonic cells. The biofilm state is now universally-recognized for its complexity and resiliency to stresses, and importance in natural environments, as well its roles in comensal flora and infection processes. However, the EPS matrix, which occur just ‘outside of cells’, is poorly understood, and has been understated in the literature. Yet this extracellular milieu is crucial to the functioning and resiliency of the biofilm. Recently, exciting new advances have emerged that are helping to understand the EPS matrix, its processes, ultrastructure, and importance to cells in nature and disease.
Creative Commons
English
books978-3-906980-95-9 9783906980959 9783906980942
10.3390/books978-3-906980-95-9 doi
EPS (extracellular polymeric substances) nanoparticles biofilm microbial mats chemical communication infections imaging vesicles
Biofilms: Extracellular Bastions of Bacteria - MDPI - Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute 2014 - 1 electronic resource (300 p.)
Open Access
Biofilms are attached forms of bacteria and other microorganisms enclosed in a matrix of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), and comprise a microbial lifestyle that is quite different from that of free-living planktonic cells. The biofilm state is now universally-recognized for its complexity and resiliency to stresses, and importance in natural environments, as well its roles in comensal flora and infection processes. However, the EPS matrix, which occur just ‘outside of cells’, is poorly understood, and has been understated in the literature. Yet this extracellular milieu is crucial to the functioning and resiliency of the biofilm. Recently, exciting new advances have emerged that are helping to understand the EPS matrix, its processes, ultrastructure, and importance to cells in nature and disease.
Creative Commons
English
books978-3-906980-95-9 9783906980959 9783906980942
10.3390/books978-3-906980-95-9 doi
EPS (extracellular polymeric substances) nanoparticles biofilm microbial mats chemical communication infections imaging vesicles