Bacteria susceptible to dangerous biofilms

Researchers in Massachusetts for the first time announced the discovery that bacteria use tactile to select locations for biofilm formation. Microbial empires that live on medical implants and other implant devices that play a key role in drug-resistant infections are a headache problem that cost billions of dollars each year.

New findings on biofilm formation are related to the ability to limit drug-resistant infections while increasing the safety of implant materials.(Photo: Courtesy of Rocky Mountain Laboratories, NIAID, NIH)

The finding could help research the creation of safer implants to fight biofilms that cause thousands of deaths every year. It can also be used in the development of materials that enhance the ability of important, beneficial bacteria to be introduced into the body. The study is expected to be published in the June 9 issue of ACS 'Biomacromolecules.

In a recent report, Krystyn J. Van Vliet and colleagues said previous research focused on the problem of microbial biofilm formation, or on the surface of antimicrobial compounds. Scientists know some of the surface conditions that affect biofilm formation. Although the results of the study are contradictory, the mechanical stiffness effect of these surfaces has never been taken into account before.

The researchers looked at the effectiveness of various polymer materials with the strain of Staphylococcus epidermidis - the bacteria that causes the most common infections in hospitals - besides E. bacteria. coli. Through laboratory tests, they found that accompanying bacteria particularly preferred polymer materials harder than other polymer materials.

Changing the hardness of polymer materials used in implants can create a generation of intelligent materials that help fight biofilm formation.