Recent PubMed Abstracts on Biofilms

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      Harrison
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        Microbiology. 2010 Aug 12. [Epub ahead of print]
        Candida albicans forms Biofilms on the Vaginal Mucosa.
        Harriott MM, Lilly EA, Rodriguez TE, Fidel PL, Noverr MC.
        Wayne State University School of Medicine

        Current understanding of resistance and susceptibility to vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) challenges existing paradigms of host defense against fungal infection. While abiotic biofilm formation has a clearly established role during systemic Candida infections, it is not known whether C. albicans forms biofilms on the vaginal mucosa and their role in disease.

        In vivo and ex vivo murine vaginitis models were employed to examine biofilm formation by scanning electron and confocal microscopy. C. albicans strains included 3153A (lab strain), DAY185 (parental control strain), and mutants defective in morphogenesis and/or biofilm formation in vitro (efg1/efg1 and bcr1/bcr1). Both 3153A and DAY815 formed biofilms on the vaginal mucosa in vivo and ex vivo as indicated by high fungal burden and microscopic analysis demonstrating typical biofilm architecture and presence of extracellular matrix (ECM) co-localized with the presence of fungi. In contrast, efg1/efg1 and bcr1/bcr1 mutant strains exhibited weak to no biofilm formation/ECM production in both models compared to wildtype strains and complemented mutants despite comparable colonization levels.

        These data show for the first time that C. albicans forms biofilms on in vivo on vaginal epithelium, and that in vivo biotic biofilm formation requires regulators of biofilm formation (BCR1) and morphogenesis (EFG1).

        PMID: 20705667 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]
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        Cien Saude Colet. 2010 Jun;15 Suppl 1:1819-26.
        Oral infection control in hospitalized patients: an approach to cardiologist and intensive care units doctors
        [Article in Portuguese]
        Kahn S, Mangialardo Ede S, Garcia CH, Namen FM, Galan Júnior J, Machado WA.
        Universidade Veiga de Almeida, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. skahn(at)openlink.com.br

        This paper aims to find the current level of periodontal med-care knowledge, as well as the possible existence of some oral infection control protocol regarding hospitalized patients. Our sample gathered 110 cardiologists and intensive care units doctors selected from medical teams of five Rio de Janeiro hospitals.

        Preliminary numbers: 75.4% said to have heard something about Periodontal Medicine, although only 30% out of this group admitted to have read something concerning such subject. On the other side, only 2.7% of the sample informed to do consistent information searching along their patients anamnese, while 58.2% out of this group admitted such procedure conditional to the patient’s general state at the due moment.

        Through such numbers, we tend to come up to the conclusion that, be it either through direct or indirect Periodontal Medicine technical information (and consequently with regards to the absolut importance of preservation and control of oral biofilm and its impact on one’s systemic health), the matter has been dimly spread among medical groups. The search also revealed the probability that Rio de Janeiro hospitals lack either units or agents designed for prevention and control of oral infection; .

        PMID: 20640344 [PubMed – in process]
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        Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2010 Aug 8. [Epub ahead of print]
        Prevention of bacterial adhesion.
        Klemm P, Vejborg RM, Hancock V.
        Microbial Adhesion Group, DTU Food, Bldg 301, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Lyngby, Denmark, pekl(at)food.dtu.dk

        Management of bacterial infections is becoming increasingly difficult due to the emergence and increasing prevalence of bacterial pathogens that are resistant to available antibiotics. Conventional antibiotics generally kill bacteria by interfering with vital cellular functions, an approach that imposes selection pressure for resistant bacteria.

        New approaches are urgently needed. Targeting bacterial virulence functions directly is an attractive alternative. n obvious target is bacterial adhesion. Bacterial adhesion to surfaces is the first step in colonization, invasion, and biofilm formation. As such, adhesion represents the Achilles heel of crucial pathogenic functions. It follows that interference with adhesion can reduce bacterial virulence. Here, we illustrate this important topic with examples of techniques being developed that can inhibit bacterial adhesion. Some of these will become valuable weapons for preventing pathogen contamination and fighting infectious diseases in the future.

        PMID: 20694794 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]
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