title: Biofilms: new ideas for an old problem.
abstract: Microbial cells, under moist conditions, are able to adhere to surfaces and to form structured communities embedded in a matrix of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). In industrial environments, biofilms can cause heat and mass transfer limitations whilst in medical facilities they can be a source of contamination and proliferation of infections. Biofilm formation is related to the pathogenicity of some bacterial strains and cells in biofilms are usually resistant to antimicrobials agents, which increases the interest in new and sound methods for their prevention and destruction.
authors.affiliation: IBB-Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Centre for Biological and Chemical Engineering, Instituto Superior Tecnico, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal. ccarvalho@ist.utl.pt
authors.forename: Carla C C R
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: de Carvalho
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects*; D010330:Patents as Topic
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents