Microbial biofilms and the human intestinal microbiome

Since early life we are colonised by a myriad of microbes that make up our microbiome. This colonisation process starts at birth or even before, when the virtually sterile baby encounters new microbial environments. It is likely that at this time or at later moments in life, microbial communities are met that have high-level structures with a temporal and spatial organisation, termed biofilms. This perspective will focus on these biofilms and the microbes in the intestinal tract as these are the most numerous in the human body, are found in luminal and mucosal locations, and have a great impact on human health and disease.