title: Mini-review: Biofilm responses to oxidative stress.
abstract: Biofilms constitute the predominant microbial style of life in natural and engineered ecosystems. Facing harsh environmental conditions, microorganisms accumulate reactive oxygen species (ROS), potentially encountering a dangerous condition called oxidative stress. While high levels of oxidative stress are toxic, low levels act as a cue, triggering bacteria to activate effective scavenging mechanisms or to shift metabolic pathways. Although a complex and fragmentary picture results from current knowledge of the pathways activated in response to oxidative stress, three main responses are shown to be central: the existence of common regulators, the production of extracellular polymeric substances, and biofilm heterogeneity. An investigation into the mechanisms activated by biofilms in response to different oxidative stress levels could have important consequences from ecological and economic points of view, and could be exploited to propose alternative strategies to control microbial virulence and deterioration.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Food, Environmental and Nutrition Sciences , Università degli Studi di Milano , Milan , Italy.
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gambino
authors.affiliation: a Department of Food, Environmental and Nutrition Sciences , Università degli Studi di Milano , Milan , Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cappitelli
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D006801:Humans; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000096:biosynthesis; D053038:Quorum Sensing; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D011134:Polysaccharides; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species
keywords: Biofilm; heterogeneity; oxidative stress; polysaccharide production; quorum sensing