Bacterial biofilms and disease PowerPoint Presentation

Bacterial biofilms and disease - PowerPoint Presentation Example Different bacterial species specifically attach to different surfaces and could aggregate with other species or a combination of species. The organization and structure of biofilms are elaborate. Channels are present for the circulation of nutrients. The different regions show different expression of genes, pointing to functional heterogeneity. Sessile or attached biofilm communities can give rise to nonsessile microbes that can rapidly multiply and disperse. Thus, bacterial biofilms are not easily eradicated by conventional antibiotic therapy, which can lead to chronic bacterial infections. Some biofilms have beneficial effects, i.e. the prevention of colonisation of tissues by exogenous pathogens ("colonisation resistance"). Biofilms prevent pathogen colonisation is due to the production of acids, hydrogen peroxide, biosurfactants. In some cases, the disappearance of protective biofilm indicates the presence exogenous pathogens. Dental plaque, found on teeth surface also protects by the same mechanism. The proliferation of biofilms in certain cases can result in biofilm that can cause medical diseases such as caries, gingivitis, and periodontitis. Aside from oral infections, use of implantable medical devices and impairment in the individual’s host defence mechanism results in biofilm diseases. Acute infections can be treated effectively with antibiotics except those that are caused by antibiotic resistant strains. However, many infectious diseases are caused by bacterial species by bacteria that are common in the environment or are living in the human bodies. However, more than half of the infectious diseases that affect mildly compromised individuals involve bacterial species that are commensal with the human body or are common in our environments. Surfaces of medical devices that are used in diagnosing or treating bacterial infections can harbour the presence of slime-encased bacteria (Table 1 and Figure 2). Chronic bacterial infections that are