Priority effects dictate community structure and alter virulence of fungal-bacterial biofilms.

ABSTRACT: Polymicrobial biofilms are a hallmark of chronic wound infection. The forces governing assembly and maturation of these microbial ecosystems are largely unexplored but the consequences on host response and clinical outcome can be significant. In the context of wound healing, formation of a biofilm and a stable microbial community structure is associated with impaired tissue repair resulting in a non-healing chronic wound. These types of wounds can persist for years simmering below the threshold of classically defined clinical infection (which includes heat, pain, redness, and swelling) and cycling through phases of recurrent infection. In the most severe outcome, amputation of lower extremities may occur if spreading infection ensues. Here we take an ecological perspective to study priorit

SUBMITTER: Cheong JZA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8245565 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature