From the Publisher:                 

     The study of biofilm biology has virtually exploded in recent years, and Microbial Biofilms avails the reader a comprehensive introduction to this exciting and developing field.  Combining cutting-edge research with valuable historical perspective, this new volume will be of key importance to environmental microbiologists, medical and clinical microbiologists, geologists, biomedical engineers, biotechnologists, and non-experts interested in learning about biofilms, as well as graduate students in biofilm biology courses.

     Written by field experts, the scope of Microbial Biofilms covers broad topics, including biofilm development, antibiotic resistance, architecture, and the roles these communities play in disease and industry, and incorporates both bacteria and fungi.  The book is introducted by a chapter on hte history of biofilm biology, written by one of the pioneers in the field, and concludes with ruminations on future directions.

Key Features

• first introductory volume detailing this new and important field of microbial research
• covers broad topics in biofilm biology including development, antibiotic resistance, architecture, and role of these communities in disease
• combines cutting-edge research with historical perspective of the field

Table of Contents:

Introduction to Biofilms:  Conceptual Themes

Chapter 1.     A Short History of the Development of the Biofilm Concept

Chapter 2.     Multicellularity and Biofilms

Chapter 3.     Fungal Biofilms

Chapter 4.     Molecular Basis of Biofilm Development by Pseudomonads

Chapter 5.     Biofilm Development in Staphylococcus

Chapter 6.     Human Oral Bacterial Biofilms

Chapter 7.     Quorum Sensing in Biofilms:  Gossip in Slime City

Chapter 8.     Bacterial Biofilms on Plants:  Relevance and Phenotypic Aspects

Chapter 9.     Biofilm Structure, Behavior, and Hydrodynamics

Chapter 10.   A Sticky Business:  the Extracellular Polymeric Substance Matrix of Bacterial Biofilms

Chapter 11.   Genetic Exchange in Biofilms

Chapter 12.   Microbial Interactions in Mixed-Species Biofilms

Chapter 13.   Modeling Biofilms

Chapter 14.   Biofilm Antimicrobial Resistance

Chapter 15.   Biofilms and Implant Infections

Chapter 16.   Biofilms and Hospital-Acquired Infections

Chapter 17.   Biofilms as Reservoirs for Disease

Chapter 18.   Role for Biofilms in Infectious Disease

Chapter 19.   Biofilms in the Water Industry

Chapter 20.   Methods of Studying Biofilms

Chapter 21.   Concluding Remarks and Future Directions