Polymicrobial Biofilm Studies: from Basic Science to Biofilm Control

Abstract

Microbes rarely exist as single species planktonic forms as they have been commonly studied in the laboratory. Instead, the vast majority exists as part of complex polymicrobial biofilm communities attached to host and environmental surfaces. The oral cavity represents one of the most diverse and well-studied polymicrobial consortia. Despite a burgeoning field of mechanistic biofilm research within the past decades, our understanding of interactions that occur between microbial members within oral biofilms is still limited. Thus, the primary objective of this review is to focus on polymicrobial biofilm formation, microbial interactions and signaling events that mediate oral biofilm development, consequences of oral hygiene on both local and systemic disease, and potential therapeutic strategies to limit oral dysbiosis.

RETRACTED: Sanguinarine Inhibits Mono- and Dual-Species Biofilm Formation by Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus and Induces Mature Hypha Transition of C. albicans

“…C. albicans also readily develops biofilms on the surface on in-dwelling biomedical materials and mucosal tissues, which serve as a rich reservoir of infection, and can result in severe systemic infections because of their heightened resistance to antibiotics [4]. Critically, studies have suggested that in a natural, clinical, and industrial environment, microbes are rarely present as single-species communities, but instead the vast majority exist as part of complex multi-species consortia, where a mutually beneficial interaction between members of interspecific species may develop [5]. Likewise, an estimated 27% to 56% of nosocomial C. albicans bloodstream infections may be defined as polymicrobial [6].…”

Phenotypic characterization of oral mucosa: what is normal?

“…Postnatal keratin 8 expression seems to be associated with dysplasia or cancer formation as was observed by numerous authors and employed in diagnostics . The suprabasal presence of keratin 14 observed in normal gingiva is also considered a marker of abnormal epithelium including basal/squamous cancer . The surface of teeth represents an ideal surface for the formation of bacterial biofilms (31).…”

Fungal Biofilms and Polymicrobial Diseases

“…Similarly to most communities, biofilms are multicultural and well-engineered [ 58 ]. Interactions within these biofilms can be mutualistic, commensalistic, or antagonistic and microorganisms have evolved highly defined responses to sense and adapt to neighboring species [ 59 , 60 ].…”