A technology for the investigation of biofilm transmission under shearing pressures

Biofilm formation is a multifactorial and dynamic process. Stages of biofilm formation are highly regulated and include bacterial attachment to a target surface, formation of microcolonies, biofilm maturation and dispersion. This article highlights recent research by Gusnaniar et al., (2017) in which the authors develop a device to investigate bacterial biofilm transmission between surfaces under shearing pressures. The instrument can potentially be used to investigate the role of different genetic determinants and environmental cues on biofilm stability and transmission. [Image: see text]