Economic significance of biofilms: a multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral challenge

Cámara, Miguel; Green, William; MacPhee, Cait E.; Rakowska, Paulina D.; Raval, Rasmita; Richardson, Mark C.; Slater-Jefferies, Joanne; Steventon, Katerina; Webb, Jeremy S.

Abstract

The increasing awareness of the significance of microbial biofilms across different sectors is continuously revealing new areas of opportunity in the development of innovative technologies in translational research, which can address their detrimental effects, as well as exploit their benefits. Due to the extent of sectors affected by microbial biofilms, capturing their real financial impact has been difficult. This perspective highlights this impact globally, based on figures identified in a recent in-depth market analysis commissioned by the UK’s National Biofilms Innovation Centre (NBIC). The outputs from this analysis and the workshops organised by NBIC on its research strategic themes have revealed the breath of opportunities for translational research in microbial biofilms. However, there are still many outstanding scientific and technological challenges which must be addressed in order to catalyse these opportunities. This perspective discusses some of these challenges.

Citation

Cámara, M., Green, W., MacPhee, C. E., Rakowska, P. D., Raval, R., Richardson, M. C., Slater-Jefferies, J., Steventon, K., & Webb, J. S. (2022). Economic significance of biofilms: a multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral challenge. npj Biofilms and Microbiomes, 8(1), Article 42. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41522-022-00306-y

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 6, 2022
• Online Publication Date: May 26, 2022
• Publication Date: Dec 1, 2022
• Deposit Date: Jun 17, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 20, 2022
• Journal: npj Biofilms and Microbiomes
• Electronic ISSN: 2055-5008
• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 8
• Issue: 1
• Article Number: 42
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41522-022-00306-y
• Keywords: Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology; Microbiology; Biotechnology
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/8226945
• Publisher URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41522-022-00306-y