Gut microbiota: role of biofilms in human health

Humans harbor complex communities of microbes, predominantly bacteria, that live symbiotically within the colon. There are several factors that influence the trajectory of gut microbiota in infants such as birth term, mode of delivery, and dietary habits. These microbes secrete several metabolites to communicate with the host’s physiological and cellular system and, therefore, can influence the pathogenesis of a wide range of disorders. The microbial composition of the human gut is highly dynamic and is known to alter various gastrointestinal, metabolic, cardiovascular, inflammatory, and neurological diseases. Mechanistically, several pathogenic or disease-associated bacteria have developed a special behavior of forming aggregates and encapsulating within a protective biofilm via quorum-sensing. A better understanding of the mechanisms leading to biofilm formation in pathogenic microbes can pave the way for developing novel therapeutic interventions for infectious diseases.