Biology and ecology of bacterial and fungal human biofilms.

The main of goal of this research community is to understand bacterial and fungal biofilm formation with the aim to develop better ways to combat these biofilms. The development of a biofilm comprises several steps of which adhesion is the important first step. Further biofilm development requires cell-cell communication which in polymicrobial biofilms may occur between cells from different species. We will also investigate why cells within a biofilms are more tolerant towards antifungal drugs in comparison to plantonic cells. In this aspect we will focus on persister cells in order to understand their appearance and the underlying mechanism of their resistance. Several Flamish partners will collaborate with three foreign groups.

Keywords:human biofilms, fungal, bacterial, ecology, Biology

Disciplines:Microbiology, Systems biology, Laboratory medicine