http://precedings.nature.com/tags/Biofilms Recently posted documents tagged with 'Biofilms' Nature Publishing Group en Nature Precedings http://precedings.nature.com/images/header_logo.gif http://precedings.nature.com http://precedings.nature.com/documents/1967/version/1 Medical devices are an integral part of therapeutic management; despite their importance, they carry a significant risk of microbial infection. Bacterial attachment to a medical device is established by a single, multiplying organism, leading to subsequent biofilm formation. To date, no preventative measures have impacted the incidence of device-related infection. We report the bidirectional covalent coupling of an engineered cationic antimicrobial peptide (eCAP), WLBU2, to various biological surfaces is accomplished. These surfaces included (i) a carbohydrate-based gel matrix, (ii) a complex polymeric plastic bead, and (iii) a silica-calcium phosphate nanocomposite associated with bone reconstruction. WLBU2-conjugated surfaces are shown to retain potent antimicrobial activity related to bacterial surface adhesion. This study provides proof of principle that covalently coating laboratory and bone-regenerating materials with eCAPs has the potential for decreasing infection rates of implanted devices. These findings have important consequences to the patient management component of our current health care technology. http://precedings.nature.com/documents/1967/version/1 Wed, 11 Jun 2008 17:34:37 UTC Peptides as potent antimicrobials tethered to a solid surface: Implications for medical devices hdl:10101/npre.2008.1967.1 2008-06-11 Timothy A. Mietzner Nature Precedings 2008-06-11T17:34:37Z Manuscript Biotechnology Microbiology http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/npre.2007.1182.1 We hypothesize that transparent exopolymer particles (TEP), present in high concentrations in most sea and freshwaters, are critical agents for biofilm initiation and development in many natural and anthropogenic aquatic environments. These gel-like particles appear in many forms; amorphous blobs, clouds, sheets, filaments or clumps ranging in size from ~2 to ~200 µm. TEP are mostly polysaccharide, negatively charged, very sticky and are frequently colonized by bacteria. TEP may be considered a “planktonic” subgroup of exopolymeric substances (EPS), widely studied in biofilm research. Recognition of TEP involvement in biofilm formation has important implications for a comprehensive understanding of the complexities of this process in aquatic environments and may also contribute to the considerable efforts being made in the global water industry to mitigate the harmful effects of biofouling in water treatment and desalination plants. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/npre.2007.1182.1 Fri, 28 Sep 2007 10:49:46 UTC Transparent Exopolymer Particles (TEP): an overlooked factor in the process of biofilm formation in aquatic environments doi:10.1038/npre.2007.1182.1 2007-09-28 Tom Berman Nature Precedings 2007-09-28T10:49:46Z Manuscript Biotechnology Microbiology http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/ http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/npre.2007.164.1 The US CDC believes that 65% of all infections in developed countries may be caused by pathogens in biofilms. Electron Microscopy has shown that these bacterial communities can evade phagocytosis, and persist in the cytoplasm of monocytes, macrophages, lymphocytes and neutrophils. Three decades ago, Wirostko et al. found such intraphagocytic communities in Crohn’s disease, Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis and Sarcoidosis. However, the mechanism(s) by which such persistent bacteria could evade the immune system have remained elusive. Recently, 16S RNA from species of gliding bacteria never thought to be able to survive in vivo, have been found in surgically removed biofilms. This study set out to identify whether the genomes of these gliding bacteria might yield insight into mechanisms by which such persistent pathogens could evade phagocytosis. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/npre.2007.164.1 Fri, 22 Jun 2007 13:17:53 UTC Bacterial Capnine Blocks Transcription of Human Antimicrobial Peptides doi:10.1038/npre.2007.164.1 2007-06-22 Trevor G. Marshall Nature Precedings 2007-06-22T13:17:53Z Poster Immunology Microbiology Bioinformatics http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/