Bacterial biofilm and associated infections
Muhsin Jamala b✉, Wisal Ahmadb, Saadia Andleebc, Fazal Jalild, Muhammad Imrane, Muhammad Asif Nawazf, Tahir Hussainb, Muhammad Alif, Muhammad Rafiqb, Muhammad Atif Kamild
- aDepartment of Microbiology, Abdul Wali Khan University, Garden Campus, Mardan, Pakistan. Electronic address: muhsinjamal@awkum.edu.pk
- bDepartment of Microbiology, Abdul Wali Khan University, Garden Campus, Mardan, Pakistan
- cAtta-ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan
- dDepartment of Biotechnology, Abdul Wali Khan University, Garden Campus, Mardan, Pakistan
- eDepartment of Microbiology, University of Health Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
- fDepartment of Biotechnology, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University, Sheringal, Dir (Upper), Pakistan
- ✉Corresponding author
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Abstract
Microscopic entities, microorganisms that drastically affect human health need to be thoroughly investigated. A biofilm is an architectural colony of microorganisms, within a matrix of extracellular polymeric substance that they produce. Biofilm contains microbial cells adherent to one-another and to a static surface (living or non-living). Bacterial biofilms are usually pathogenic in nature and can cause nosocomial infections. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) revealed that among all microbial and chronic infections, 65% and 80%, respectively, are associated with biofilm formation. The process of biofilm formation consists of many steps, starting with attachment to a living or non-living surface that will lead to formation of micro-colony, giving rise to three-dimensional structures and ending up, after maturation, with detachment. During formation of biofilm several species of bacteria communicate with one another, employing quorum sensing. In general, bacterial biofilms show resistance against human immune system, as well as against antibiotics. Health related concerns speak loud due to the biofilm potential to cause diseases, utilizing both device-related and non-device-related infections. In summary, the understanding of bacterial biofilm is important to manage and/or to eradicate biofilm-related diseases. The current review is, therefore, an effort to encompass the current concepts in biofilm formation and its implications in human health and disease.