Molecular genetics of bacterial attachment and biofouling

Microbial adhesion to animate or inert surfaces is potentially mediated by nonspecific physical or specific ligand—receptor interactions. Growth and survival of the microbial community or biofilm then depends on adaptation to a series of changing environmental milieux. Within the realm of cell—cell interaction, recent advances suggest that flagella, fimbriae and other protein receptors are essential for bacterial attachment to surfaces. There has also been profound progress in the elucidation of genes and molecules necessary for bacterial attachment to surfaces and subsequent biofilm formation.