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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 11, 2026

Bile Salt-induced Biofilm Formation in Enteric Pathogens: Techniques for Identification and Quantification

Bile Salt-induced Biofilm Formation in Enteric Pathogens: Techniques for Identification and Quantification

Published on: May 6, 2018

Microbial biofilms and gastrointestinal diseases.

Erik C von Rosenvinge¹, Graeme A O'May, Sandra Macfarlane

¹Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.

Pathogens and Disease

|April 27, 2013

Summary

Most bacteria form biofilms, not free-floating. This review explores gastrointestinal (GI) tract biofilms, their composition, and links to health and disease, highlighting their survival advantages.

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Last Updated: May 11, 2026

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Area of Science:

Microbiology
Gastroenterology
Medical Science

Background:

The majority of bacteria reside in sessile biofilm communities, not planktonically.
Biofilms are matrix-enclosed microbial accretions adhering to surfaces, implicated in chronic diseases.
Bacterial biofilm growth enhances survival against host immunity and antimicrobials.

Purpose of the Study:

To review current knowledge on gastrointestinal (GI) tract biofilms.
To summarize the composition and function of these communities.
To explore the association of GI biofilms with health and disease states.

Main Methods:

Literature review of existing studies on GI biofilms.
Synthesis of data on biofilm composition and characteristics.
Analysis of clinical relevance and disease associations.

Main Results:

The human GI tract provides ideal environments for biofilm formation and survival.
Limited knowledge exists regarding the specific nature, function, and clinical relevance of GI biofilms.
Biofilm communities contribute to bacterial recalcitrance to host defenses and therapies.

Conclusions:

GI tract biofilms are significant microbial communities with implications for health and disease.
Further research is needed to fully understand the composition, function, and clinical impact of GI biofilms.
Targeting GI biofilms may offer novel therapeutic strategies for related diseases.