VISCOELASTICITY AND DETACHMENT IN BIOFILMS

该提案的目的是研究生物膜脱离的重要过程，作为一个具体的案例，在人体内，生物膜从宿主组织和留置装置的表面分离，以传播感染。更广泛地说，生物膜生长在一系列环境和工业表面上。有些藏匿着受污染的食物、水或气雾剂中的病原体：脱离环境会导致病原体在环境中传播并与人接触。调查将包括如何评估和衡量脱离和重新连接的倾向。这项研究的成果对风险评估和疾病控制的总体领域至关重要。该提案涉及两位生物膜研究带头人(蒙大拿州立大学的J.William Costerton博士和英国埃克塞特大学的Hilary Lappin-Scott博士)之间的国际合作。两人都是生物膜研究的国际专家。举个例子，他们是ASM生物膜专题会议(1996年，犹他州雪鸟)的组织者，并共同编辑了一本关于这一主题的教科书。除了有积极的个人研究兴趣，科斯特顿博士和拉平-斯科特博士还拥有成功的长期合作伙伴关系，产生了许多重要的研究。这种关系导致了一种独特的、互补的研究力量的发展。

The objective of the proposal is to investigate the important processes of biofilm detachment As a specific case, within the human body biofilms detach from the surfaces of host tissues and indwelling devices to spread infection. More generally, biofilms grow on a range of environmental and industrial surfaces. Some harbor pathogens from contaminated food, water, or aerosols: detachment causes the transfer of pathogens within the environment and into contact with people. The investigation will cover how to assess and measure the propensity for detachment and reattachment. The products of this research are vital to the general area of risk assessment and disease control. The proposal involves an international collaboration between two leaders of biofilm research (Dr. J. William Costerton at Montana State University and Dr. Hilary Lappin-Scott at University of Exeter, U.K.) Both are international experts in biofilm research. To give examples, they were the organizers of the ASM Special Topics conference on Biofilms (Snowbird, Utah, 1996), and have jointly edited a textbook on the subject. In addition to having active individual research interests, Drs. Costerton and Lappin-Scott have a successful long- term partnership that has produced many significant studies. This relationship has led to the development of a unique and complementary research strength.