References and Notes

Our path seems clear. We have come to understand many things about the unique biology of bacterial biofilms. Biofilms represent microbial societies with their own defense and communication systems. We have an arsenal of microscopic, physical chemical, and molecular techniques available to examine biofilms. There are many basic questions regarding the biology of biofilms that can now be answered. Our modern view of biofilm infections leads to the realization that their effective control will require a concerted effort to develop therapeutic agents that target the biofilm phenotype and community signaling–based agents that prevent the formation, or promote the detachment, of biofilms