SUMMARY Though biofilms were first described by Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, the theory describing the biofilm process was not developed until 1978. We now understand that biofilms are universal, occurring in aquatic and industrial water systems as well as a large number of environments and medical devices relevant for public health. Using tools such as the scanning electron microscope and, more recently, the confocal laser scanning microscope, biofilm researchers now understand that biofilms are not unstructured, homogeneous deposits of cells and accumulated slime, but complex communities of surface-associated cells enclosed in a polymer matrix containing open water channels. Further studies have shown that the biofilm phenotype can be described in terms of the genes expressed by biofilm-associated cells. Microorganisms growing in a biofilm are highly resistant to antimicrobial agents by one or more mechanisms. Biofilm-associated microorganisms have been shown to be associated with several human diseases, such as native valve endocarditis and cystic fibrosis, and to colonize a wide variety of medical devices. Though epidemiologic evidence points to biofilms as a source of several infectious diseases, the exact mechanisms by which biofilm-associated microorganisms elicit disease are poorly understood. Detachment of cells or cell aggregates, production of endotoxin, increased resistance to the host immune system, and provision of a niche for the generation of resistant organisms are all biofilm processes which could initiate the disease process. Effective strategies to prevent or control biofilms on medical devices must take into consideration the unique and tenacious nature of biofilms. Current intervention strategies are designed to prevent initial device colonization, minimize microbial cell attachment to the device, penetrate the biofilm matrix and kill the associated cells, or remove the device from the patient. In the future, treatments may be based on inhibition of genes involved in cell attachment and biofilm formation.

Rodney M. Donlan

J. William Costerton

Clinical Microbiology Reviews

临床微生物学评论 (CMR) 分析了临床微生物学和免疫学的最新发展，提供了该领域的当前知识状态，以及对有争议问题的平衡、发人深省的观点。

Clinical Microbiology Reviews analyzes the latest developments in clinical microbiology and immunology, providing the current state of knowledge in the field and offering balanced and thought-provoking perspectives on controversial issues.

《Clinical Microbiology Reviews》分析了临床微生物学和免疫学的最新发展，提供了该领域的当前知识状态，并对有争议的问题提出了平衡且发人深省的观点。

Clin Microbiol Rev

Biofilms: Survival Mechanisms of Clinically Relevant Microorganisms

It is understood that biofilms are universal, occurring in aquatic and industrial water systems as well as a large number of environments and medical devices relevant for public health, and that treatments may be based on inhibition of genes involved in cell attachment and biofilm formation.

Category	Quartile
医学	1
医学, 微生物学	1

Biofilms: Survival Mechanisms of Clinically Relevant Microorganisms

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