| Abstract: | Natural biofilms rarely exist as monocultures. Usually they are formed from various microorganism species that interact with each other, have shared metabolites, strengthen the attachment of each other to the support substrate, provide expression of "foreign" genes etc. Material on factors and mechanisms that determine the formation of mixed (polymicrobial) biofilms is analyzed in the review. The significance of interspecies interaction between bacteria based on QS system signal autoinductors is underlined. Examples of humoral and contact communications between bacteria and eukaryotes including host cells are provided. Study of polymicrobial processes and their interaction with innate and adaptive immune response seems important for further development of medical microbiology (especially regarding chronic infectious diseases). |
