Staphylococcal biofilms: structure, regulation, rejection

Staphylococci are able to cause chronic (persistent) infections, which develop in native tissues as well as on invasive materials artificially introduced into an organism. Such infections are associated with formation of biofilms. The review determines the definition of biofilms, describes factors, which contribute to their formation, characterizes adaptive stability of staphylococcal biofilms, which provides their long-term persistence in host organism. Genetic organization and regulation of polysaccharide and protein biofilms of staphylococci are described. Strategy for prevention and treatment of staphylococcal biofilm diseases is discussed.