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Fundamentals for Biofilms

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Formation and Control of Biofilm in Various Environments

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Abstract

This chapter includes the fundamentals for biofilms. It starts by introducing the topics of bacteria and biofilms. Then it discusses the formation, growth, collapse, and removal of biofilms, which are the result of bacterial activity. Biofilm constituents (which are predominantly water) and exopolymeric substances (EPS) are also presented. EPS, a sticky slime, is the main component of a biofilm’s three-dimensional structure and includes proteins, polysaccharides, lipids, and more. Quorum sensing, which is cell to cell chemical communication that allows bacteria to coordinate an activity, is described too. In addition, details are provided about biofilm involvement in a wide variety of infections.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Institute of Technology (KOSEN), Shiroko-cho, Suzuka, Mie, Japan

    Hideyuki Kanematsu

  2. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, USA

    Dana M. Barry

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  1. Hideyuki Kanematsu
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Correspondence to Dana M. Barry .

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Kanematsu, H., Barry, D.M. (2020). Fundamentals for Biofilms. In: Formation and Control of Biofilm in Various Environments. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-2240-6_2

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