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Article
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Fungal biofilms
Article By:
Ramage, Gordon School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
Williams, Craig Department of Microbiology, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
Last reviewed:2012
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.YB120268
Microbiologists have historically studied homogeneous planktonic (that is, free-floating) cells in pure culture. However, the link between heterogeneous sessile (that is, surface-attached) cells, microbial pathogenesis, and human infection is now widely accepted. It is apparent that a wide range of bacteria and fungi are able to alternate between planktonic growth and sessile multicellular communities, commonly referred to as biofilms. In fact, up to 80% of all microorganisms in the environment exist in biofilm communities.
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