Articles tagged with Biofilm Formation
A UCLA-led team has discovered a novel mechanism of kidney stone formation involving bacteria, challenging the long-held assumption that stones develop solely through chemical and physical processes.
A UC Berkeley professor and her team have discovered gene clusters in the oral microbiome that produce molecules helping good bacteria stick to teeth, outcompeting acid-producing cavities. The researchers plan to introduce these gene clusters into healthy bacteria to form strong biofilms, reducing cavities.
Researchers at Auburn University have discovered the strongest natural protein bond ever recorded, revealing how Staphylococcus aureus clings tightly to human skin. The study found that calcium plays a key role in fortifying this grip, making it stronger and more resistant to breaking.
A new study presents a two-step method to effectively dismantle bacterial biofilms and prevent regrowth. By using self-locomotive antibacterial microbubblers (SLAM) followed by a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and peroxyacetic acid, researchers were able to prevent the regrowth of biofilms on surfaces, including medical instruments.
Bacteria use tactile sensors to detect surfaces and trigger biochemical signals for colonization. Understanding mechanosensing is crucial for improving gut health and preventing biofouling in industries.
A recent study has discovered that microplastics can facilitate the development of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria, even in the absence of antibiotics. The researchers used different types and sizes of plastic to expose E. coli bacteria to various antibiotics and found significant increases in multidrug resistance after exposure.
Hungarian researchers have identified unique bacterial communities in thermal waters that may help unravel the development of stromatolites, one of Earth's oldest rock formations. The findings provide valuable insights into biological and geological processes occurring in extreme environments today.
Researchers at KTH Royal Institute of Technology developed a model to estimate biofilm growth, enabling optimal hull cleaning schedules to save on fuel consumption. Biofilm fouling can increase fuel friction by up to 18%, leading to higher emissions and consumer prices.
Researchers discovered that bacteria use cell wall fragments as an alarm signal to initiate protective biofilm formation. Biofilms provide protection from immune cells, antibiotics, and viruses, highlighting universal survival strategies across bacterial species.
Scientists at University of California - Riverside discovered a chemical produced by plants that prevents bacterial biofilm formation. This breakthrough offers potential advances in healthcare and industrial settings, where biofilms cause significant problems.
Researchers have discovered unique features of Salmonella dry surface biofilms, including a dense capsule and 'sandwich-like' structure, which contribute to their antimicrobial resistance. The study also identified potential safety concerns and developed an effective water-free antibiofilm strategy for the food industry.
Researchers at Aarhus University have decoded part of the bacterial defense mechanism against antibiotics, providing a crucial step towards treating resistant MRSA infections. Understanding the molecular composition of the biofilm-forming protein PSMα1 could lead to new strategies and treatments to prevent biofilm formation.
A new study reveals how three species of bacteria coexist in biofilms by playing a game of 'nice' and then moving out when the surface becomes too crowded. The dominant species, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, disperses to allow other species to thrive.
The study highlights the role of proteins, polysaccharides, water channels, and metal ions in shaping biofilm morphology. Bacterial biofilms adapt to environmental stressors through complex interactions between cells and molecular processes in the extracellular space.
Researchers developed new surface treatments to reduce biological toxicity effects on marine organisms. Biofilm growth and coral survival were significantly improved on surface-treated samples, while bulk-treated samples showed reduced biofilm growth and mechanical properties.
Biofilms on food-contact surfaces pose significant risks to food safety, spoilage, and public health. Innovative approaches like edible coatings, antibiofilm surfaces, and nanosensor technologies offer promising solutions.
Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University found that foaming plastic carriers promote 44 times more biofilm formation, enhancing wastewater treatment. Adding waste biomass further improves performance, especially in nitrate removal during the moving bed biofilm reactor process.
A recent study revealed that specific bacteria produce a carbohydrate compound that induces settlement and metamorphosis in larvae of the warm-water tubeworm Hydroides elegans. This process, known as biofouling, can coat ship hulls and propellers, causing significant economic damage.
Researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev have developed a new compound, PL-18, which disrupts bacterial quorum sensing and biofilm formation. This compound has shown promise in reducing bacterial virulence and inhibiting iron uptake, suggesting potential applications in combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Researchers used interferometry to study biofilm growth and found that the contact angle with the substrate plays a key role in determining fitness. The team discovered that the shape of the biofilm's edge, which resembles a spherical cap, is influenced by this geometry.
A team of researchers from the University of Southern Denmark has discovered a mechanism that reduces the formation of biofilm on the surface of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacterium commonly found in hospitals and resistant to most antibiotics. The biofilm-reducing system is naturally stimulated by cell wall stress, and its discovery of...
Neotame has been shown to cause previously healthy gut bacteria to become diseased and invade the gut wall, potentially leading to irritable bowel syndrome and sepsis. The study also found a breakdown of the epithelial barrier, which forms part of the gut wall.
A UMass Amherst-led team developed biofilm-resistant glass using UV radiation, which prevents biofilm formation on surfaces in underwater environments. The technology can be used for various applications, including disinfection of transparent surfaces like windows and camera lenses.
Researchers from Columbia University found that bacteria in biofilms have a highly structured arrangement, allowing them to control physiological states and survive during antibiotic treatment. This discovery could lead to developing new drugs targeting antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Using optical traps, researchers controlled bacterial aggregation and biofilm development, finding different types of lasers can stimulate or suppress growth. The study opens up possibilities for creating microscopic building materials from bacteria.
Researchers at NUS-SCELSE have discovered a plant hormone, methyl jasmonate, that communicates with beneficial microorganisms in the soil, boosting crop growth by 30%. This finding holds great promise for sustainable agriculture and could lead to the development of nature-based agrochemicals.
Researchers have engineered a living material resembling human phlegm to study polymicrobial biofilms in cystic fibrosis patients. The material, which grows 3D biofilms in a controlled manner, will help experts understand how these structures form and develop effective treatments.
Researchers at UTSA have discovered a novel strategy to inhibit the spread and infection of Vibrio cholerae, the bacteria responsible for cholera. They identified a peptide-binding domain that can disrupt the virulence of V. cholerae, preventing intestinal colonization and biofilm formation.
Researchers discovered that Alcanivorax borkumensis biofilms consume oil by stretching droplets into tubes, allowing for efficient oil degradation. Large concentrations of dispersants can harm these biofilms, highlighting the need for further research.
Researchers developed AirGels, bioengineered models of human lung tissue, to study airway infections in a more realistic manner. They found that Pseudomonas aeruginosa induces contraction of the host's mucus using type IV pili, contributing to biofilm formation.
A WVU researcher is working to understand the unknowns about microorganisms growing inside pipes that bring drinking water to homes and businesses. Biofilms can be detrimental to drinking water quality, but the researcher aims to develop strategies for maintaining water quality throughout complex infrastructures.
Researchers from University of Toronto Engineering demonstrate that bending silicone rubber medical devices can form 'microcracks' perfect for colonizing bacteria. Bacteria prefer to attach in these microscopic cracks, leading to the formation of potentially harmful biofilms.
Biofilm-forming bacteria adhere to hydrophobic and hydrophilic protein-adsorbing SAMs firmly, while weakly attaching to hydrophilic protein-resisting SAMs. This study could lead to development of bacteria-resistant surfaces and antibiofouling coatings.
The study found that antibiotics slow down biofilm growth and QS molecule production across both strains, with surface type having a significant effect on the non-mucoid strain. The patterned structure was associated with longer latencies before expression of QS molecules were at their peak.
A Brazilian study found that early sugar consumption and interruption of breastfeeding are key factors contributing to dental caries in infants. Extended breastfeeding was shown to protect babies' teeth as long as they didn't receive sugary food, with the risk declining with falling sugar consumption.
Researchers at the University of Cologne discovered that bacterial membrane potential changes during biofilm formation, correlating with increased antibiotic tolerance. The study found characteristic patterns of polarization that evolve in space and time, which are linked to a change in oxygen availability.
Caulobacter crescentus uses a toxin-antitoxin system to regulate programmed cell death in response to oxygen limitation, releasing DNA that promotes sibling dispersion. This mechanism helps maintain biofilm balance and prevents overcrowding.
Scientists have developed an enzyme that effectively breaks down signaling molecules used by bacteria to produce biofilms. The enzyme, LrsL, has exceptional efficacy in suppressing biofilm formation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacterium known for causing hospital-acquired infections.
Scientists at the University of Bath have discovered a novel polyamine that destroys MRSA superbug Staphylococcus aureus by disrupting its cell membrane, rendering it susceptible to antibiotics. The compound is also effective against biofilm and has shown promise as a potential new treatment option for antibiotic-resistant infections.
Researchers discovered that cross-kingdom assemblages of bacteria and fungi can form superorganisms that colonize teeth, causing extensive tooth decay. These superorganisms exhibit enhanced surface adhesion, increased mechanical and antimicrobial tolerance, and unique mobility, moving at speeds similar to fibroblasts.
Researchers at KAUST developed conductive membranes that stimulate microbial growth and separate biochemical products, reducing the CO2 conversion time from over 30 days to just one month. The membranes use nickel nanoparticles to catalyze hydrogen production, enhancing efficiency and stability in microbial electrosynthesis systems.
Researchers at the University of Birmingham have developed a new method to boost biocatalytic activity using synthetic polymers that stimulate biofilm formation. The study found that hydrophobic polymers outperform mildly cationic polymers, increasing biomass and biocatalytic activity in E. coli.
Researchers at Ben-Gurion University have found a phytochemical derived from broccoli that breaks down biofilms protecting antibiotic-resistant pathogens, enabling eradication rates of up to 94% when combined with antibiotics. The compound also accelerates wound healing and is being further developed for commercialization.
Researchers identify key enzyme CbrR and cyclic-di-GMP as crucial for Campylobacter jejuni's motility and biofilm formation. By targeting these elements, scientists aim to develop a safe molecule to prevent infection.
Researchers discovered how Mycobacterium tuberculosis can evolve efficiently by forming complex biofilms due to genetic mutations. The study sheds light on the bacterium's robustness and identifies potential vulnerabilities for developing more effective treatments.
Researchers at University of California - San Diego use electrical shocks to manipulate the demographic of bacterial communities, changing the ratio of cell types and controlling biofilm development. This technology offers a new tool to destabilize biofilms in healthcare and agriculture settings.
Researchers are exploring how bacteria form biofilms, which can be detrimental to health but also have potential uses in medicine and environmental cleanup. The study aims to understand the mechanisms behind microbial growth in biofilms and develop new materials and treatments.
Researchers found that nitrate triggers Salmonella bacteria to switch from a sessile, biofilm lifestyle to a motile, free-swimming lifestyle in the intestine. This switch enables the bacteria to cause active infection and establish transmission to a new host.
The study demonstrated that photodynamic therapy (PDT) using chlorin e-6 can effectively reduce bacterial plaque biofilms containing cariogenic microorganisms, including Streptococcus mutans. The treatment eliminated S. mutans and decreased total microorganisms by up to 3.7 units, with approximately 99% efficacy of antimicrobial activity.
Researchers studied Bacillus subtilis biofilms using X-ray diffraction and fluorescence, finding that calcium ions accumulate in the matrix while zinc, manganese, and iron ions accumulate along wrinkles. These findings suggest a link between structure, nutrients, water, and bacterial behavior.
A team of scientists at KAUST has developed a novel approach for cleaning biofouled membranes in anaerobic bioreactors, combining UV irradiation with bacteriophages to eliminate bacteria. The method improved upon individual treatments and was proven effective over four cleaning cycles.
A study by the University of Pennsylvania and Indiana University found that a nanozyme therapy, combining ferumoxytol and hydrogen peroxide, significantly reduced the buildup of harmful dental plaque and targeted bacteria responsible for tooth decay. The treatment effectively killed Streptococcus mutans bacteria while leaving other ora...
Researchers found that nanosilver treatment can increase the risk of recurrent infections when used long-term due to pathogen adaptation. Long-term exposure allows bacteria like Pseudomonas aeruginosa to evolve and resume normal growth upon discontinuation of treatment.
A team of researchers characterized different bacterial populations isolated from the International Space Station's potable water system, exploring their functional properties and long-term interactions. The study aimed to improve microbial risk assessments for human-built environments in space and on Earth.
Researchers at Monash University have engineered a new antimicrobial surface that significantly reduces bacterial attachment and biofilm formation on medical instruments, including urinary catheters. The surface, with smooth 3D micro features, effectively combats the three most common UTI-causing bacteria.
Microbial populations in the deep subsurface are driven by host rock mineral composition, forming 'hotspots' of life. The study found that iron-rich minerals are preferred colonization sites for biofilms.
Researchers discovered how bacterial colonies form multilayered biofilms when exposed to antibiotics, which can contribute to antibiotic resistance. The study's findings suggest that breaking up the formation of these biofilms could be an effective strategy for treating infections.
The research findings reveal that a novel microbial small molecule from Streptococcus mutans promotes biofilm formation via an unprecedented physicochemical mechanism. This discovery highlights the significance of secondary metabolism in mediating critical processes related to dental caries development.
Researchers have developed a new type of cerium nanoparticle formulation that can prevent plaque and cavities from forming, without killing oral bacteria. The nanoparticles inhibit the growth of biofilms by 40% compared to silver nitrate, reducing the risk of tooth decay.
Researchers have made significant strides in understanding the mechanisms of cholera biofilm formation and hyperinfectivity. Biofilms are found to be highly infectious due to primed virulence factors, with bacteria already producing toxins before infection occurs.