Fungal biofilms, drug resistance, and recurrent infection

JV Desai, AP Mitchell… - Cold Spring …, 2014 - perspectivesinmedicine.cshlp.org
Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in medicine, 2014perspectivesinmedicine.cshlp.org
A biofilm is a surface-associated microbial community. Diverse fungi are capable of biofilm
growth. The significance of this growth form for infection biology is that biofilm formation on
implanted devices is a major cause of recurrent infection. Biofilms also have limited drug
susceptibility, making device-associated infection extremely difficult to treat. Biofilm-like
growth can occur during many kinds of infection, even when an implanted device is not
present. Here we summarize the current understanding of fungal biofilm formation, its …
A biofilm is a surface-associated microbial community. Diverse fungi are capable of biofilm growth. The significance of this growth form for infection biology is that biofilm formation on implanted devices is a major cause of recurrent infection. Biofilms also have limited drug susceptibility, making device-associated infection extremely difficult to treat. Biofilm-like growth can occur during many kinds of infection, even when an implanted device is not present. Here we summarize the current understanding of fungal biofilm formation, its genetic control, and the basis for biofilm drug resistance.
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