Gambino Michela, Cappitelli Francesca
a Department of Food, Environmental and Nutrition Sciences , Università degli Studi di Milano , Milan , Italy.
Biofouling. 2016;32(2):167-78. doi: 10.1080/08927014.2015.1134515.
Biofilms constitute the predominant microbial style of life in natural and engineered ecosystems. Facing harsh environmental conditions, microorganisms accumulate reactive oxygen species (ROS), potentially encountering a dangerous condition called oxidative stress. While high levels of oxidative stress are toxic, low levels act as a cue, triggering bacteria to activate effective scavenging mechanisms or to shift metabolic pathways. Although a complex and fragmentary picture results from current knowledge of the pathways activated in response to oxidative stress, three main responses are shown to be central: the existence of common regulators, the production of extracellular polymeric substances, and biofilm heterogeneity. An investigation into the mechanisms activated by biofilms in response to different oxidative stress levels could have important consequences from ecological and economic points of view, and could be exploited to propose alternative strategies to control microbial virulence and deterioration.
生物膜是自然和工程生态系统中微生物的主要生存方式。面对恶劣的环境条件，微生物会积累活性氧（ROS），可能会遭遇一种称为氧化应激的危险状况。虽然高水平的氧化应激具有毒性，但低水平的氧化应激可作为一种信号，促使细菌激活有效的清除机制或改变代谢途径。尽管目前关于响应氧化应激而激活的途径的认识较为复杂且零碎，但已表明三种主要反应至关重要：存在共同调节因子、产生细胞外聚合物以及生物膜的异质性。从生态和经济角度来看，对生物膜响应不同氧化应激水平所激活的机制进行研究可能会产生重要影响，并且可用于提出控制微生物毒力和变质的替代策略。
