Particulate plastic fragments (micro and nano-plastics) in aquatic environments provide
abundant solid substrates, which serve as an important habitat for a variety of …

The formation of multicellular microbial communities, called biofilms, starts from the
adhesion of a few planktonic cells to the surface. The transition from a free-living planktonic …

Carbohydrates are essential mediators of many processes in health and disease. They
regulate self-/non-self-discrimination, are key elements of cellular communication, cancer …

In the wild, bacteria are predominantly associated with surfaces as opposed to existing as
free-swimming, isolated organisms. They are thus subject to surface-specific mechanics …

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common microbial infections in humans
and represent a substantial burden on the health care system. UTIs can be uncomplicated …

Recent outbreaks of food-borne diseases highlight the need for reducing bacterial
pathogens in foods of animal origin. Animal enteric pathogens are a direct source for food …

This article reviews the physical and chemical constraints of environments on biofilm
formation. We provide a perspective on how materials science and engineering can address …

The shapes of eukaryotic cells and ultimately the organisms that they form are defined by
cycles of mechanosensing, mechanotransduction and mechanoresponse. Local sensing of …

The urinary tract is a common site of bacterial infections; nearly half of all women experience
at least one urinary tract infection (UTI) during their lifetime. These infections are classified …

Why do bacteria have shape? Is morphology valuable or just a trivial secondary
characteristic? Why should bacteria have one shape instead of another? Three broad …