The Bigger Picture on Dual-Species Biofilms
Dr Katherine Baxter returned to research through a three-year-sponsored fellowship from Medical Research Scotland with Professors Gail McConnell and Paul Hoskisson, looking at the biofilm formation of the fungus Candida albicans and bacteria Staphylococcus aureus.
Here, Katherine shares the latest discoveries from her research.
Biofilm research has gathered pace over the last few decades, and the concept has also evolved. For instance, a biofilm used to be defined as a film simply adhering a micro-organism community to a surface – attaching, maturing and disseminating.
However, a far more complex picture is now emerging. Small aggregates of unattached biofilm contribute to secondary infections, and the way the micro-organisms themselves interact further adds to this complexity. The multifactorial nature of biofilms makes it challenging for both understanding and predicting their development.
My research focuses on the formation of dual-species biofilm structures, in mixed species communities of the fungus Candida albicans and the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus. Infections from these micro-organisms are far more serious when combined, compared to infections with either micro-organism alone.
They result in greater virulence, and a poorer patient outcome. Understanding how these dual biofilms form and possibly contribute to the synergy between the micro-organisms is therefore crucial in understanding their role in antimicrobial resistance and infection.
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