Infection, biofilm accumulation

The predominant mechanism of biofilm accumulation in staphylococci involves polysaccharide intercellular adhesin (PIA) [60-66], S. epidermidis strains lacking this adhesin are also regularly isolated from biomaterial-related infections, a fact which prompted a search for an alternative, PIA-independent accumulation mechanism [51, 52, 60-62, 67, 68], The responsible molecule was identified as accumulation associated protein, Aap [69-71], and there may also be a role for additional proteinaceous intercellular adhesins [52], Aap has a similar-acting homolog, SasG, in S. aureus [72], adding to the accumulating evidence that proteinaceous intercellular adhesins are also of importance in S. aureus biofilm formation and device-related infection [52, 72-74],... 

Use of Polysaccharide-Mediated Biofilm Accumulation Mechanisms in Prevention of Infection and Colonisation... 

Biofilm Control. Biofilms, often referred to as slime, occur on the surface of aqueous environments and are caused by a complex accumulation of microorganisms. Biofilms are usually considered undesirable, as they are frequently associated with odors, infections, fouling, and corrosion, but they can be beneficial under some circumstances such as the treatment of wastewater. 

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