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Progress in Research on Biofilm Formation by Probiotics

LIU Lei, LIU Yi, LI Pinglan*   

  1. Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering,
    China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
  • Online:2016-05-15 Published:2016-05-18

Abstract:

Probiotics are defined as ‘live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer health
benefits to the host’. In recent years, probiotics have gained increasing attention due to their therapeutic effects. Biofilms are
formed by multiple bacterial cells attached to a surface that arranges themselves into a complex tertiary structure encased
in an extracellular matrix comprised of carbohydrates, proteins, and other macromolecules, which constitute the majority of
bacteria in most natural ecosystems. However, little research has been done concerning probiotic biofilms. Therefore, the
formation, characteristics, influencing factors, advantages and regulatory pathways of probiotic biofilms are discussed in this
paper. In the future, probiotic biofilms will be an important research area.

Key words: probiotics, biofilms, influencing factors, regulatory pathway

CLC Number: