Speciality grand challenge for “biofilms”

Abstract

The idea that most bacteria in nature are attached to surfaces was recognized as early as 1933 when Henrici stated after investigating fresh-water bacteria that “it is quite evident that for the most part water bacteria are not free floating organisms, but grow attached upon submerged surfaces” (Henrici, 1933). Zobell followed up with work that demonstrated seawater biofilms precede the attachment of other macro-fouling organisms (Zobell and Allen, 1935). Thus, began this field of research which was furthered by work on biofilms occurring in nature and the growing realization that a number of infections are biofilm-related (Costerton et al., 1999; Hall-Stoodley et al., 2004).