微生物生物膜研究的新进展

微生物在生长过程中为适应生存环境而形成了生物膜,Dr.Costerton JW在生物膜方面的研究为我们开拓了微生物学的新领域。微生物生物膜是由微生物群体及其包被的细胞外多聚物和基质网组成,它们彼此黏附或者黏附到组织或物体的表面。微生物生物膜与微生物的耐药性形成、基因的转移以及引起机体的持续性感染等都密切相关。目前对生物膜的研究重点已经深入到微生物相互间的信号传递、致病基因的转移以及如何干预微生物生物膜的形成等方面。此外,在治理污水和环境保护工程、生物材料工程和食品工业等方面,微生物生物膜技术已经得到了应用。

Progress in microbial biofilm research

Objective Dr.Costerton's initial discovery on biofilm illuminated an entirely new aspect of microbiological research.Biofilms are generally defined as aggregates of microorganisms that are embedded within a matrix of extracellular polymeric substances(EPS) and adhered to each other and/or to surfaces.In industrial environments,biofilms can develop on the interiors of pipes and lead to clogs and corrosion.In medicine,biofilms spreading along implanted tubes or wires can lead to chronic persistent infections in patients.As a matter of course,bacteria in a biofilm have significantly different physiological characteristics,the most well known of which is increased resistance to antibiotics.Further research will focus on their signal transduction system,pathogenic gene transfer and controlling biofilm formation.In addition,biofilm technology has been applied in treating contaminated water,environmental protection,biomaterials and food industry.