Silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) have strong antibacterial properties, which may adversely affect biological wastewater treatment processes. To determine the overall effect, intact biofilm samples were collected from the rotating biological contactor at the local wastewater treatment plant and treated with 200 mg Ag/L Ag-NPs for 24 h. The biofilm uptake of Ag-NPs was monitored with transmission el...

Microbes tend to attach to available surfaces and readily form biofilms, which is problematic in healthcare settings. Biofilms are traditionally associated with wet or damp surfaces such as indwelling medical devices and tubing on medical equipment. However, microbes can survive for extended periods in a desiccated state on dry hospital surfaces, and biofilms have recently been discovered on dr...

background recent evidences have revealed that in more than 65% of microbial infections, biofilms have critical roles. the ability of yeasts to form biofilms on surface of medical devices such as urine catheters is an important reason of the capability of these microorganisms to cause human disease. objectives the aim of this study was to isolate and identify yeasts on the surfaces of urine cat...

Drinking water (DW) biofilm communities influence the survival of opportunistic pathogens, yet knowledge about the microbial composition of DW biofilms developed on common in-premise plumbing material is limited. Utilizing 16S and 18S rRNA gene pyrosequencing, this study characterized the microbial community structure within DW biofilms established on unplasticized polyvinyl chloride (uPVC) and...

The presence of emerging contaminants in aquatic systems and their potential effects on ecosystems have sparked the interest scientific community with a consequent increase report. Moreover, environment should be assessed through “One-Health” approach since all living organisms are exposed to those at some point several works already reported impact ecological interactions. There wide variety c...

Quantification and prediction of gene transfer in natural environments is required for reliable assessment of risks associated with the transfer of recombinant DNA in genetically engineered microbial inocula, and for a greater understanding of the mechanisms controlling transfer of genetic material. Published models of gene transfer describe plasmid transfer in homogeneous, liquid culture syste...

We describe microbial communities denoted biofilms and efforts to model some of their important aspects, including quorum sensing, growth, mechanics, and antimicrobial tolerance mechanisms.

good guide. Arnold Steinhardt, the violinist, recounts that after the inaugural performance by his string quartet (the Guarnari) they were visited backstage by Rudolf Serkin. The pianist said, “The last time I heard Mozart played like that was in Vienna — and that is why I left.” And perhaps the hardest lesson to accept is that, unless it’s a thesis exam or something of the sort, your audience ...

In aquatic environment, microorganisms such as bacteria and microalgae usually secrete a matrix of mucilaginous extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) to form a “microbial biofilm” when they are associated with solid surfaces (e.g., sediment particles, plant surfaces). Biofilms and the associated mucilaginous secretions form a cohesive matrix surrounding sediment particles, modifying the sedi...