Postgraduate Researchers in Science Medicine Conference 2005: Abstracts
Biofilm formation in clinical and laboratory strains of Escherichia coli
Ruth Dowling, Reg England, Dave Greenway
Biofilms a structured community of bacterial cells enclosed in a self-produced polymeric matrix and adherent to an inert or living surface. They are a significant medical problem because they grow on the surface of catheter lines and contact lenses, on pacemakers, heart valve replacements, artificial joints and other surgical implants. Biofilm cells are many times more resistant to antimicrobials and often the only way to get rid of them completely is surgery.
Typically, biofilm research is carried out on strains that have become accustomed to laboratory conditions and are therefore not representative of the clinical strains infecting patients. This study compares biofilm formation of a common laboratory strain of Escherichia coli with several clinical isolates of E. coli from blood and urine and discusses the differences between them.
Ruth Dowling, University of Central Lancashire, Department of Biological Sciences, Preston, PR1 2HE
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