What does it take to stick around? Molecular insights into biofilm formation by uropathogenic Escherichia coli.

Existence in the biofilm state lends bacteria the opportunity to enjoy, at least for a finite amount of time, the benefits of a multicellular entity. The order of events leading to biofilm formation and disassembly has been the topic of interest for numerous studies, aiming to identify factors and mechanisms that underlie this dynamic developmental process. Of particular import is research leveraged at delineating biofilm formation by medically relevant microorganisms, as prevention or eradication of biofilm from medical devices and from within the host pose a serious challenge in the healthcare setting. Recent research describes how a transcriptional regulator modulates biofilm formation in uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) by affecting the expression of the type 1 adhesive organelles in response to extracellular signals.