title: Biofilm formation by enterococci.
abstract: Enterococci are an important global cause of nosocomial infections, being increasingly associated with urinary tract infections, endocarditis, intra-abdominal and pelvic infections, catheter-related infections, surgical wound infections, and central nervous system infections. The two most common enterococci species are Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium. Both are capable of producing biofilms, which consist of a population of cells attached irreversibly on various biotic and abiotic surfaces, encased in a hydrated matrix of exopolymeric substances. Many environmental and genetic factors are associated or have been proposed to be associated with the production of biofilm. This review discusses recent advances in knowledge about the biology and genetics of biofilm formation and the role of biofilms in enterococci pathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical School, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Jamal A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Mohamed
authors.affiliation: New Jersey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, East Orange, NJ 07018, USA.
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D016983:Enterococcus / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology*; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins