title: Fungal biofilms, drug resistance, and recurrent infection.
abstract: A biofilm is a surface-associated microbial community. Diverse fungi are capable of biofilm growth. The significance of this growth form for infection biology is that biofilm formation on implanted devices is a major cause of recurrent infection. Biofilms also have limited drug susceptibility, making device-associated infection extremely difficult to treat. Biofilm-like growth can occur during many kinds of infection, even when an implanted device is not present. Here we summarize the current understanding of fungal biofilm formation, its genetic control, and the basis for biofilm drug resistance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213.
authors.forename: Jigar V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Desai
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213.
authors.forename: Aaron P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53705.
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Andes
mesh_terms: D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D060085:Coinfection / Q000188:drug therapy; D025141:Drug Resistance, Fungal; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000382:microbiology; D005936:Glucans / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009181:Mycoses / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012008:Recurrence
chemical_list: D005936:Glucans