Skip Navigation
Skip to contents

Journal of Microbiology : Journal of Microbiology

OPEN ACCESS
SEARCH
Search
Advanced Search
mobile menu button

Articles

Page Path
HOME > J. Microbiol > Volume 54(2); 2016 > Article
Review
MINIREVIEW] Biofilm dispersion in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Soo-Kyoung Kim , Joon-Hee Lee
Journal of Microbiology 2016;54(2):71-85.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-016-5528-7
Published online: February 2, 2016
Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Pusan National University, Busan 609-735, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Pusan National University, Busan 609-735, Republic of Korea
Corresponding author:  Joon-Hee Lee , Tel: +82-051-510-2821, 
Received: 21 October 2015   • Revised: 22 December 2015   • Accepted: 22 December 2015
next
  • 46 Views
  • 0 Download
  • 85 Crossref
  • 100 Scopus
Full Article

Abstract

In recent decades, many researchers have written numerous articles about microbial biofilms. Biofilm is a complex community of microorganisms and an example of bacterial group behavior. Biofilm is usually considered a sessile mode of life derived from the attached growth of microbes to surfaces, and most biofilms are embedded in self-produced extracellular matrix composed of extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs), such as polysaccharides, extracellular DNAs (eDNA), and proteins. Dispersal, a mode of biofilm detachment indicates active mechanisms that cause individual cells to separate from the biofilm and return to planktonic life. Since biofilm cells are cemented and surrounded by EPSs, dispersal is not simple to do and many researchers are now paying more attention to this active detachment process. Unlike other modes of biofilm detachment such as erosion or sloughing, which are generally considered passive processes, dispersal occurs as a result of complex spatial differentiation and molecular events in biofilm cells in response to various environmental cues, and there are many biological reasons that force bacterial cells to disperse from the biofilms. In this review, we mainly focus on the spatial differentiation of biofilm that is a prerequisite for dispersal, as well as environmental cues and molecular events related to the biofilm dispersal. More specifically, we discuss the dispersal-related phenomena and mechanisms observed in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an important opportunistic human pathogen and representative model organism for biofilm study.

  • Cite this Article
    Cite this Article
    export Copy Download
    Close
    Download Citation
    Download a citation file in RIS format that can be imported by all major citation management software, including EndNote, ProCite, RefWorks, and Reference Manager.
    Format:
    • RIS — For EndNote, ProCite, RefWorks, and most other reference management software
    • BibTeX — For JabRef, BibDesk, and other BibTeX-specific software
    Include:
    • Citation for the content below
    MINIREVIEW] Biofilm dispersion in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
    J. Microbiol. 2016;54(2):71-85.   Published online February 2, 2016
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-016-5528-7
    Close
Related articles
Journal of Microbiology : Journal of Microbiology
© The Microbiological Society of Korea.
TOP