Dear Colleagues,

A large number of microorganisms are known to give rise, by adhering to surfaces, to sessile communities defined as biofilms, sometimes established by single microbial species, but, more often, by different aerobic and/or anaerobic species. Such complex biological systems, consisting of microorganisms that multiply inside a self-produced matrix, mainly constituted by exopolysaccharides, behave as a consortia, acting in a coordinated manner. During the development of these communities, the sessile cells acquire physiological characteristics, differing from those of planktonic cells, particularly with regard to the production of extracellular polymeric substances, growth rate, expressed genes, and increased horizontal gene transfer.

Today, multidrug- and extensively drug-resistant pathogens, able to grow as biofilms, represent a serious public health concern, with the zeal for the biofilm coming from their ability to often make antibiotics inadequate, thus, giving rise to chronic and/or recurrent infections. Such biofilms are considered to be responsible for a wide variety of community-acquired and healthcare-associated infections, especially those involving the respiratory tract, the genito-urinary apparatus and surgical wounds. Additionally, human infections related to the implant of medical devices, such as urinary catheters, central venous catheters, prostheses, biliary stents, and so on, are considered to be associated with the establishment of microbial biofilms on their surfaces.

The aim of this Special Issue, dedicated to "Microbial biofilm and Human Infections", is to collect updated reviews, as well as selected research articles, on the mechanisms underlying the formation of pathogenic biofilms, the development of appropriate laboratory methods to detect biofilm-related human infections, and the set up of innovative anti-biofilm therapies or preventive strategies.

Prof. Gianfranco Donelli
Dr. Claudia Vuotto
Guest Editors

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• biofilm-related human infections
• microbial pathogens
• antimicrobial resistance
• medical devices
• anti-biofilm compounds
• antimicrobial surfaces
• laboratory diagnosis