Forging a Link Between Biofilms and Disease

Abstract

The sticky conglomerations of bacteria known as biofilms are being linked to common human diseases ranging from tooth decay to prostatitis and kidney infections. Aided by support from a new program at the National Institutes of Health, researchers are now working to understand how and why biofilms form. The goal is to identify their Achilles9 heel and devise better treatments, which are badly needed, because bacteria sequestered in biofilms are shielded from attack by the host9s immune system and are often much harder to kill with antibiotics than their free-floating counterparts.