| |
|
 |
Brussels, Belgium -- Microorganisms such as bacteria often tend to live in complex colonies known as biofilms, which are responsible for many serious chronic diseases like cystic fibrosis and periodontal disease, as well as industrial contamination, biofouling and biocorrosion. But not all is so bleak. Biofilms also offer important societal and environmental benefits. A recent Exploratory Workshop was held by the European Science Foundation (ESF) to examine both their detrimental and beneficial aspects and the prospect of opening up new directions in research.
In cystic fibrosis, excess mucus production in the airways hosts bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which mop up dead white blood cells from the immune system, enabling them to construct their protective biofilm coat. Biofilms are also involved in the heart condition, endocarditis, a rare but serious disease in which one of the four heart valves, the heart lining, or heart muscle are infected by a bacterial biofilm, usually comprising streptococci, and become inflamed. Since the biofilms are resistant to antibiotics and the immune system’s white blood cells, often the only option is surgery to replace a damaged valve. Greater knowledge would allow new drugs to be developed that break up the biofilm.
However, biofilms also have many positive benefits to offer although there has been little attention given to them up till now. They may be used for the self-purification of streams and rivers, in the treatment of waste and pollution and/or the generation of electricity. This is made possible by the protective slimy matrix that prevents attack from the immune system and antibiotics, as well as toxic contaminants while breaking down waste or effluent.
Over the last 30 years, biofilms have attracted the attention of biotechnologists, bioengineers and researchers working on infectious diseases, leading to rapid progress but also fragmentation and duplication in research activities. In order to overcome this, the ESF has stepped into the breach and unified Europe’s efforts, bringing together experts in fields as diverse as genetics, microbiology, microscopy, medical microbiology, environmental science and ecology.
In September 2007, an exploratory workshop was held in Lunz, Austria which led to a proposal for a new body called the European Biofilm Net (EBN) to coordinate activities. The specific objectives of the EBN include developing both laboratory and computational techniques, while integrating relevant fields such as system biology or ecology and evolution, to create the interdisciplinary platform for a new era of biofilm research.
The ESF workshop highlighted the enormous potential and importance of biofilms and research undertaken to unravel the complex and cellular interactions within these microbial communities. There was also great interest in the use of biofilms to power microbial fuel cells whose fuel would be wastewater. This exploits the bacteria’s ability to transfer electrons to metals, which can be the cathode of a fuel cell, via protuberances called philli which extend from their surfaces.
Each year, ESF supports approximately 50 exploratory workshops across all scientific domains. These small interactive group sessions are aimed at opening up new directions in research to explore new fields with a potential impact on developments in science.
Source: http://ec.europa.eu/
© Copyright 1998 - 2008 Water and Wastewater.com
Top of Page
|
|
| |
| Send news and case
histories to:
news@waterandwastewater.com |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
I Live Newsfeed
I |
|
Increase traffic and add
content to your website
with our exclusive
newsfeed generator.
Our live newsfeed
allows you to
include news
headlines from our
News Center, right
on your homepage.
Headlines update in
real-time, automatically.
Click here to create
your own newsfeed! |
|
| |
|
 |
