Microbial biofilm: A matter of grave concern for human health and food industry

• Published in: Journal of basic microbiology Vol. 61; no. 5; pp. 380 - 395
• Main Authors: Rather, Muzamil A., Gupta, Kuldeep, Bardhan, Pritam, Borah, Munmi, Sarkar, Anupama, Eldiehy, Khalifa S. H., Bhuyan, Shuvam, Mandal, Manabendra
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany 01.05.2021
• Subjects: antibiofilm; aquaculture; biofilm; food industry; food spoilage; human health; humans; infection; meat; nucleic acids; polymers; polysaccharides; poultry; ready-to-eat foods; infection; antibiofilm; human health; biofilm; food industry
• ISSN: 0233-111X; 1521-4028; 1521-4028
• DOI: 10.1002/jobm.202000678

Pathogenic microorganisms have adapted different strategies during the course of time to invade host defense mechanisms and overcome the effect of potent antibiotics. The formation of biofilm on both biotic and abiotic surfaces by microorganisms is one such strategy to resist and survive even in presence of antibiotics and other adverse environmental conditions. Biofilm is a safe home of microorganisms embedded within self‐produced extracellular polymeric substances comprising of polysaccharides, extracellular proteins, nucleic acid, and water. It is because of this adaptation strategy that pathogenic microorganisms are taking a heavy toll on the health and life of organisms. In this review, we discuss the colonization of pathogenic microorganisms on tissues and medically implanted devices in human beings. We also focus on food spoilage, disease outbreaks, biofilm‐associated deaths, burden on economy, and other major concerns of biofilm‐forming pathogenic microorganisms in food industries like dairy, poultry, ready‐to‐eat food, meat, and aquaculture.