Bacterial Biofilms (Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology)
by Tony Romeo (Editor)
Product Details:
* Hardcover: 308 pages
* Publisher: Springer; 1 edition (February 29, 2008)
* Language: English
* ISBN-10: 3540754172
Book Description
Throughout the biological world, bacteria thrive predominantly in surface attached, matrix enclosed, multicellular communities or biofilms, as opposed to isolated planktonic cells. This choice of lifestyle is not trivial, as it involves major shifts in the use of genetic information and cellular energy, and has profound consequences for bacterial physiology and survival. Growth within a biofilm can thwart immune function and antibiotic therapy and thereby complicate the treatment of infectious diseases, especially chronic and foreign device-associated infections. Modern studies of many important biofilms have advanced well beyond the descriptive stage, and have begun to provide molecular details of the structural, biochemical and genetic processes that drive biofilm formation and its dispersion. There is much diversity in the details of biofilm development among various species, but there are also commonalities. In most species, environmental and nutritional conditions greatly influence biofilm development. Similar kinds of adhesive molecules often promote biofilm formation in diverse species. Signaling and regulatory processes that drive biofilm development are often conserved, especially among related bacteria. Knowledge of such processes holds great promise for efforts to control biofilm growth and combat biofilm-associated infections.
Contents
Biofilm Development with an Emphasis on Bacillus subtilis
K. P. Lemon, A. M. Earl, H. C. Vlamakis,
C. Aguilar, and R. Kolter
Physiology of Microbes in Biofilms
A. M. Spormann
Environmental Influences on Biofilm Development
C. C. Goller and T. Romeo
Quorum Sensing and Microbial Biofilms
Y. Irie and M. R. Parsek
Innate and Induced Resistance Mechanisms of
Bacterial Biofilms.
G. G. Anderson and G. A. O’Toole
Multidrug Tolerance of Biofilms and Persister Cells.
K. Lewis
Biofilms on Central Venous Catheters: Is Eradication Possible?
R. M. Donlan
Role of Bacterial Biofilms in Urinary Tract Infections
J. K. Hatt and P. N. Rather
Shifting Paradigms in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilm Research
A. H. Tart and D. J. Wozniak
Staphylococcal Biofilms
M. Otto
Yersinia pestis Biofilm in the Flea Vector and Its Role in the
Transmission of Plague
B. J. Hinnebusch and D. L. Erickson
Escherichia coli Biofilms
C. Beloin, A. Roux, and J.-M. Ghigo
Index
