Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Biofilms

Biofilms

Biofilms are complex communities of microorganisms encased in a self-produced extracellular polysaccharide matrix attached to surfaces. These microbial consortia can include single or multiple species, providing enhanced survival benefits by forming organized, multilayered structures.The formation of biofilms occurs through four key stages: attachment, colonization, development, and dispersal.During attachment, free-swimming planktonic cells adhere to a surface, often facilitated by...

Pneumonia I: Introduction

Pneumonia I: Introduction

Pneumonia is an infection of the lower respiratory tract that leads to inflammation of the lung parenchyma, often resulting in the accumulation of inflammatory exudate in the alveoli and airways. Unlike the watery, low-protein fluid exudate in pulmonary edema, the exudate in this case is a thick fluid rich in immune cells, proteins, and debris produced during infection and inflammation.This impairs gas exchange and can lead to consolidation of lung tissue. The infection may be caused by a...

Atypical Pneumonia

Atypical Pneumonia

Atypical pneumonia, often caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, is a form of pulmonary infection that differs from the classical presentation of bacterial pneumonia in both its cause and clinical symptoms. Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a pleomorphic bacterium notable for its lack of a rigid cell wall. This structural characteristic imparts resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics and significantly influences the bacterium’s behavior within the human host.Other pathogens responsible for the disease include...

Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract

Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract

The human respiratory tract, comprising the upper and lower segments, serves as a critical interface with the external environment. The upper respiratory tract (URT)—including the nostrils, sinuses, pharynx, and oropharynx—is heavily colonized by microbes, while the lower respiratory tract (LRT), composed of the larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs, was long thought to be sterile. However, recent molecular studies have revealed that the lungs are not devoid of microbes but act more like...

Pneumonia II: Pathophysiology

Pneumonia II: Pathophysiology

The pathophysiology of pneumonia involves the following steps:

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

KpFhaB/FhaC is a virulence-associated TPS system of the globally-disseminated <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> ST15 high-risk clone.

Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology·2026

Same author

Engineering low-endotoxin lipid A in a double auxotroph <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> to develop safer whole-cell vaccines.

Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology·2026

Same author

Upsurge of pneumococcal clade I-α/CC180 serotype 3 and its association with a LytA mutation linked to immune evasion and disease potential: an observational and experimental study.

The Lancet. Microbe·2026

Same author

Emergence of KPC-producing <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> in Spain: insights into an outbreak and resistance to the novel carbapenem/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations imipenem/relebactam and meropenem/vaborbactam.

Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy·2026

Same author

In vivo evolution of resistance to novel β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations through overproduction of the horizontally acquired extended-spectrum AmpC β-lactamase FOX-14 and porin disruption in Serratia marcescens.

European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology·2025

Same author

LpxR and PagL expression in live attenuated auxotrophic <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> vaccines modulates lipid A reactogenicity <i>in vitro</i> while preserving immunogenicity.

Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Co-culture Models of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilms Grown on Live Human Airway Cells

Co-culture Models of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilms Grown on Live Human Airway Cells

Published on: October 6, 2010

Pneumococcal biofilms.

Miriam Moscoso¹, Ernesto García, Rubens López

¹Department of Molecular Microbiology, Biological Research Center, Madrid, Spain.

International Microbiology : the Official Journal of the Spanish Society for Microbiology

|September 29, 2009

Summary

Biofilms, microbial communities implicated in numerous infections, are formed by Streptococcus pneumoniae. This review details pneumococcal biofilm formation and its unique characteristics.

Area of Science:

Microbiology
Infectious Diseases
Bacterial Pathogenesis

Background:

Biofilms contribute to over 60% of bacterial infections, posing challenges in clinical settings and industry.
Streptococcus pneumoniae, a common upper airway colonizer, can cause severe diseases like pneumonia and meningitis.
The role of S. pneumoniae in biofilm formation was previously underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

To review current knowledge on biofilm formation by Streptococcus pneumoniae.
To analyze factors influencing pneumococcal biofilm development.
To highlight unusual features of S. pneumoniae biofilms.

Main Methods:

Utilized newly developed in vitro systems to study S. pneumoniae biofilm formation.
Analyzed the influence of bacterial DNA and proteins on biofilm development.

More Related Videos

Visualizing the Effects of Sputum on Biofilm Development Using a Chambered Coverglass Model

Visualizing the Effects of Sputum on Biofilm Development Using a Chambered Coverglass Model

Published on: December 14, 2016

Development of a Polymicrobial Colony Biofilm Model to Test Antimicrobials in Cystic Fibrosis

Development of a Polymicrobial Colony Biofilm Model to Test Antimicrobials in Cystic Fibrosis

Published on: September 20, 2024

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Co-culture Models of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilms Grown on Live Human Airway Cells

Co-culture Models of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilms Grown on Live Human Airway Cells

Published on: October 6, 2010

Visualizing the Effects of Sputum on Biofilm Development Using a Chambered Coverglass Model

Visualizing the Effects of Sputum on Biofilm Development Using a Chambered Coverglass Model

Published on: December 14, 2016

Development of a Polymicrobial Colony Biofilm Model to Test Antimicrobials in Cystic Fibrosis

Development of a Polymicrobial Colony Biofilm Model to Test Antimicrobials in Cystic Fibrosis

Published on: September 20, 2024

Reviewed existing literature on pneumococcal biofilms.

Main Results:

S. pneumoniae possesses the capacity to form biofilms.
Bacterial DNA and proteins are identified as key factors in pneumococcal biofilm formation and virulence.
Pneumococcal biofilms exhibit distinct characteristics.

Conclusions:

Streptococcus pneumoniae forms biofilms, contributing to its pathogenicity.
Understanding pneumococcal biofilms is crucial for developing new therapeutic strategies.
Further research into the unusual features of these biofilms is warranted.