INVESTIGADORES
VOJNOV Adrian Alberto
capítulos de libros
Título:
Biofilm formation and virulence in bacterial plant pathogens
Autor/es:
ADRIÁN A. VOJNOV; MARÍA ROSA MARANO
Libro:
VIRULENCE MECHANISMS OF PLANT PATHOGENIC BACTERIA
Editorial:
American Phytopathological Society (APS) Press
Referencias:
Año: 2015; p. 28 - 38
Resumen:
Historically microorganisms have been studied as planktonic or free-swimming independent cells, but over the last decades researchers have realized that in nature microorganisms exist predominantly as well-organized communities of biofilms attached to surfaces. Bacterial biofilms are densely-packed systems, adhering to biotic or abiotic surfaces, in which cells share many secreted molecules, including extracellular polysaccharides as the major constituent, along with proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. Microbes form biofilms in response to environmental cues/signals, including nutritional changes, recognition of specific surface or host defense mechanisms, and presence of sub-inhibitory concentrations of antibiotics. Bacterial genes are differentially regulated within the biofilm relative to planktonic lifestyle. The production of extracellular polysaccharides, adhesins, pili, flagella and other components are the main factors involved in biofilm development. The production of these factors is regulated by interconnected multi-layered regulatory networks that include quorum sensing (QS) systems. Pathogenic bacteria use these regulatory systems to sense and respond to environmental cues and thus adapt to and exploit target hosts.