New method studies living bacterial cells
...eavy-metal contaminant and a known carcinogen. The biofilm cells were more tolerant of the contaminant, while...xperiments, scientists exposed both planktonic and biofilm cells to elevated concentrations of hexavalent chromium. The researchers then used X-ray fluorescenc...Molecular switch provides clues to remarkable adaptability of human pathogen
...S inhibited a collection of genes known to promote biofilm formation. The researchers conclude that RetS activates multiple virulence factors that contribute to acute infection while simultaneously repressing those required for long-term, chronic infection. "This system functions as a multicomponent switch ...Community living causes bacteria to diversify
... and one focus of our lab is to understand why the biofilm lifestyle makes bacteria so difficult to eradicate...tolerance to antibiotics. The new findings suggest biofilm growth may provide another key advantage. Using a laboratory model, the UI team found that when biof...Tips from the Journals of the American Society for Microbiology
...e effective at causing aStaphylococcus epidermidis biofilm to detach from surgical stainlesssteel. Results s...lectric current to disconnect the link between the biofilm and theconducting," say the researchers. "This method can be used incombination with conventional p...Diamonds are a urologist's best friend
...aube adds. To make matters worse, 'the crystalline biofilm of bacteria makes many kinds of medication less effective; even when antibiotics are used the infection is then often difficult to combat.' In addition to urinary catheters there are also what are known as ureter splints (stents), which are inserted ...NIDCR launches unique initiative on oral biofilm
... more broadly than ever the physiology of the oral biofilm as a coherent biological system," he added. "It's... scientifically not only in understanding the oral biofilm but in more effectively preventing a subset of these bacteria from destroying our gums and decaying ...Sequencing of marine bacterium will help study of cell communication
...esses that include antibiotic or toxin production, biofilm formation, and bioluminescence. One of the longest studied models of quorum sensing is the bioluminescent marine bacterium V. fischeri. "It was selected by Drs. Ruby and Greenberg to be sequenced exactly because it is so well studied," said Stevens. ...To control germs, scientists deploy tiny agents provocateurs
...most 80 percent of bacterial infections are in the biofilm forma. Biofilms can often constitute several spec...olonies unite to initiate group behaviors, such as biofilm formation. Attempting to manipulate quorum sensing in both plant and animal bacteria, Blackwell and ...New strategies to reduce hospital-acquired infections
...gh the pipes or tap can break off fragments of the biofilm transferring it to different parts of the water distribution system and seeding formation of new biofilm colonies. When water enters a hospital room from a faucet or shower, tiny water droplets containing ...Microbes yield secrets of survival
...or their affinity to harsh environments, grow as a biofilm at the Richmond Mine near Redding in Northern Cali...k and floats on the surface of the mine water. The biofilm is a self-sustaining system, using carbon and nitrogen from the atmosphere within the mine and deriv...NIH funds DOE lab for cellular studies
...of cells in the lungs, allowing the formation of a biofilm that interferes with normal lung function. Bacteria are living cells and some such as P. aeruginosa have an inner and outer membrane, each containing proteins. PNNL researchers will create a computer model of the cell wall, its embedded proteins ...Understanding how bacteria communicate may help scientists prevent disease
...tant activities also depend upon a quorum, such as biofilm formation, releasing toxins, or becoming a virulen... regulates important biological processes, such as biofilm formation and virulence. "Biofilms make bacteria resistant to antibiotics, so preventing the formati...Infection-fighting strategy backfires in cystic fibrosis
...n a "planktonic" form. Once Pseudomonas develops a biofilm it becomes significantly more resistant to both an...the development of Pseudomonas biofilms. "Once the biofilm develops, Pseudomonas infections become almost impossible to eradicate," said Nick. "If we could pre...Raisins as a functional food for oral health
...for the bacteria to form dental plaque, the sticky biofilm consisting of oral bacteria that accumulates on teeth. After a sugary meal, these bacteria release acids that erode the tooth enamel. Wu said that the data counter a longstanding public perception that raisins promote cavities. "Raisins are perceiv...Device creates electricity and treats wastewater
... carbon-based foam with a large pore size on which biofilm grows, allowing him to connect two electrodes in t...nstead of platinum," "The bacteria form a biofilm on the anode electrodes, and what I want to do is optimize this process so that we get higher curren...Novel plague virulence factor identified
...that lacks the genes (hmsHFRS operon) required for biofilm formation could still enter the worm's digestive system and eventually kill it by using a method different from food blockage," Aballay explained. "We did in fact show that as Y. pestis lacking the hmsHFRS operon accumulated in the intestine causing ......ia throughout the system, reduces the formation of biofilm even at extremely low levels and maintains this t...lla" bacteria or any other micro-organisms needing biofilm in order to grow in the system, is impeded....Say what? Bacterial conversation stoppers
...sing a toxin, while another might cut loose from a biofilm and move on to another environment. Each species of bacteria has a private language, but most also share a molecular vernacular that Bassler's lab discovered about 10 years ago. A chemical signal called autoinducer-2 (AI-2), originating from the sam......rate as regulators in the formation process of the biofilm of Staphylococcus aureus , one of the bacteria mo... factors involved in the processes of formation of biofilm from Gram-positive bacteria. Chronic infections Biofilms are communities of microorganisms in a ......e dread diseases To decipher the protein's role in biofilm construction, Graham F. Hatfull, a Howard Hughes M...cids called mycolic acids, which are necessary for biofilm growth. Hatfull is one of 20 scientists nationwide who received $1 million each from HHMI to help b...