Gloeocapsa spp. are a type of airborne cyanobacteria that are known for causing black streaks on asphalt roofs. Embedding copper containing granules into asphalt shingles was developed to prevent cyanobacterial growth on roof shingles. There are currently no established methods for testing the anti-cyanobacterial activity of copper roofing granules. First, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of Cu[2+] ions in solution was evaluated by monitoring growth in a 96 well plate over 14 days. Using a Gompertz function the MIC of Cu[2+] was determined to be 0.592 ppm for G. alpicola. To test copper granules used in shingles, the granules were either autoclaved in BG11 media or sterilized using anhydrous ethanol, dried, and added to sterile BG11. Once inoculated with G. alpicola, growth was monitored using optical density (OD) and fluorescence measurements. Debris from the granules interfered with OD measurements but fluorescence clearly showed granules formulated with copper prevented cyanobacterial growth and those without did not. This work is of practical use for companies looking to formulate anti-cyanobacterial products like roof granules as it reports a specific MIC for this airborne species of cyanobacteria often found on roofs and also validates a methodology for testing roof granules.

Based on a comprehensive dataset of 5,925 publications retrieved from Scopus and the Web of Science Core Collection between 2000 and 2024, this study systematically maps the research landscape of membrane technology for drinking water production via integrated bibliometric analysis and visualization using VOSviewer, Origin 2023, and R statistical software. The results indicated that annual publications increased by approximately 1,361% (from 36 in 2000 to 526 in 2024), with China and USA collectively contributing about 52% of global publications. Core journals in this domain include Water Research, Journal of Membrane Science, and Chemosphere. Early pioneering work was carried out by Bart Van der Bruggen, while Liang Heng from Harbin Institute of Technology has become one of the most productive researchers in recent years. Notably, the research focus has gradually shifted from membrane processes to membrane materials. While previous reviews have largely focused on technical optimization without systematic quantification of research trends or collaboration networks, this study fills that gap by providing the first large‑scale bibliometric mapping of the field's evolution, geographic hotspots and emerging themes. Additionally, this study reviews the research progress in antifouling strategies, encompassing membrane cleaning techniques and membrane surface modification, aiming to provide valuable insights for researchers worldwide.

Biofouling remains a persistent operational challenge for submerged marine infrastructure, particularly subsea instrumentation and control interfaces, where conventional antifouling coatings are ineffective over long service times. This study presents the development and validation of a piezoceramic-actuator-based, low-power ultrasonic antifouling system that inhibits organism attachment without relying on conventional cavitation effects. Six-actuator prototypes operating at 25 kHz were deployed for up to approximately 75 days in shallow marine waters in Galveston, Texas, USA. Continuous excitation at ±400 V peak-to-peak prevented settlement of macrofouling organisms including barnacles, but produced erosion bands on the prototype; numerical modelling confirmed that predicted surface vibration patterns corresponded to the observed bands. A second campaign in Goa, India, showed that intermittent excitation (3 min every 3 h) at ±120 V peak-to-peak achieved comparable antifouling performance while reducing energy consumption by approximately 300-fold relative to the continuous Galveston tests. Across three repeated tank experiments in Goa, algal surface coverage was reduced by 50-60% relative to untreated controls, remaining algae showed suppressed subsequent growth, and no erosion bands developed. These results indicate that low-power ultrasonic surface vibration offers an energy-efficient and environmentally compatible antifouling strategy suitable for long-term subsea applications.

Within seconds of placement, an adsorbed conditioning film replaces the implant's manufactured substrate and becomes the true interface host cells and microorganisms encounter. Conventional strategies engineered to kill or suppress bacteria therefore act on an interface neither party meets, helping explain the inconsistent clinical performance of broadly bactericidal designs. We propose interfacial selectivity, the capacity of a surface to favor beneficial over detrimental interactions, as a unifying design framework for implant biomaterials, and show how interfacial physicochemistry can be programmed to discriminate between colonizers. The implant boundary is viewed as three coupled interfaces: implant-film, film-microbiome, and film-host. Shared drivers, surface energy, charge, hydration, and multiscale topography, govern all three, so modifications intended to deter pathogens also influence commensal colonization, soft-tissue sealing, and osteoimmune balance. A regime map of interfacial forces reinterprets functionalization strategies within a common selectivity space, and a proposed selectivity index, applied here to published data for three archetypal surfaces, reorients evaluation from short-term killing toward the balance between host-beneficial and pathogen-beneficial outcomes. We derive transferable design principles, propose a minimum reporting standard, identify methodological gaps limiting translation, and argue that genomic and multi-omic calibration could enable patient-specific implementation across dental, percutaneous, and orthopedic implants.

Corynebacterium striatum and Staphylococcus aureus are opportunistic pathogens that share ecological niches and are frequently co-isolated in healthcare-associated infections. They commonly exist as sessile populations organized within multi-species biofilms associated with medical devices. Sortase A (SrtA) plays a critical role in anchoring surface proteins in S. aureus, thereby influencing adhesion, colonization, and biofilm formation. This study evaluated the influence of C. striatum on the formation and stability of biofilms produced by wild-type and isogenic ΔsrtA mutant S. aureus on hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces. Five strains of C. striatum (Cs1-Cs5) and three of S. aureus (Sa1-Sa3) were characterized by biochemical testing, MALDI-TOF MS, antimicrobial susceptibility profiling, and detection of the mecA and srtA genes. The polymeric matrix was assessed on Congo red agar and by staining with Coomassie Brilliant Blue R-250 and safranin. Single- and multi-species biofilms were quantified by colony-forming units at 6, 12, 24, and 48 h, and their architecture was examined using scanning electron microscopy. All strains formed biofilms, including those exhibiting multidrug-resistant phenotypes. In mono-culture, the ΔsrtA mutant of S. aureus displayed reduced adhesion and absence of a detectable polymeric matrix. In co-culture, C. striatum exhibited a progressive competitive advantage, predominating in multi-species biofilms at 48 h. Purified supernatants from C. striatum induced a sessile-to-planktonic transition in S. aureus, reducing adherent populations by up to 5.02 log10, with the ΔsrtA mutant being the most susceptible. These findings suggest that extracellular products derived from C. striatum may contribute to modulation of biofilm stability and sessile behavior, particularly under conditions involving the absence of SrtA-mediated anchoring in S. aureus. The results highlight complex ecological interactions and suggest potential therapeutic strategies based on biofilm interference.

Infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), particularly those associated with biofilms on invasive medical devices such as venous catheters, represent a significant public health challenge due to increased antimicrobial resistance. This study evaluated the anti-biofilm potential of geraniol, a natural monoterpene, against MRSA strains. In a catheter-based in vitro model, geraniol substantially inhibited initial biofilm formation and effectively disrupted pre-formed mature MRSA biofilms on catheter surfaces. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) corroborated structural damage, revealing a marked reduction in bacterial density and the biofilm matrix. Notably, geraniol exhibited a synergistic interaction with oxacillin against planktonic cells in 53.8% of the tested MRSA strains, suggesting a potential to restore antibiotic efficacy. These findings highlight the promising in vitro activity of geraniol against MRSA biofilms on venous catheters and position it as an attractive candidate for further investigation as an anti-biofilm agent for medical device-related infections.

Acinetobacter baumannii is a formidable nosocomial pathogen whose biofilm production is a key contributor to its multidrug resistance. This study reveals the significant antibacterial and antibiofilm potential of Salvia abrotanoides essential oils (EOs) against MDR and XDR A. baumannii. GC-MS analysis identified 19 novel compounds within the leaf (L-EO) and flower (F-EO) extracts. F-EO exhibited greater potency, inhibiting bacterial growth and biofilm formation at 1.75 mg/mL and 0.9 mg/mL, respectively. At sub-inhibitory concentrations, both EOs caused substantial downregulation (>84%) of the critical biofilm genes bap and csuD, which was visually confirmed by SEM. Cytotoxicity assays on A549 cells showed IC50 values of 1.6 mg/mL (L-EO) and 2.3 mg/mL (F-EO). These findings position S. abrotanoides EOs as a promising therapeutic strategy to combat resilient, biofilm-mediated infections.

This study evaluated micro- and macrofouling on panels coated with Hempaguard X7 (X7), Hempasil X3 + 87500, Dynamic 9000, and Globic 9500 M versus uncoated controls over 12 months at two contrasting sites: Muscat (Sea of Oman, MS) and Abu Dhabi (Arabian Gulf, AD). We hypothesized that environmental conditions and coating type influence antifouling performance, shaping microbial community structure and subsequent macrofouling. Panels were sampled at 2, 7, and 12 months to represent early, mid, and late colonization stages. All coatings reduced micro- and macrofouling compared to controls, but effectiveness varied by site and time. AD showed significantly higher microbial densities, fouling cover, and biofouling wet weight than MS. Illumina MiSeq sequencing revealed greater microbial diversity in MS and distinct community compositions between biocidal and non-biocidal coatings. SIMPER analysis identified Nitrosovibrio and Bacillus as key genera driving differences between controls and coatings in MS and AD, respectively. X7 consistently exhibited the lowest levels of both micro- and macrofouling across sites and times. These results indicate that environmental conditions and coating properties jointly determine antifouling success and suggest microbial community structure may drive macrofouling succession. This study provides new insights into optimizing coating selection for specific environmental conditions.

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections are difficult to treat due to biofilm formation. This study evaluates the antimicrobial and antibiofilm efficacy of murepavadin (MUR), a novel peptidomimetic targeting the LptD protein, alone and combined with conventional antibiotics against clinical isolates. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 50 isolates against MUR and five antibiotics were determined. Synergy in planktonic cultures was assessed by checkerboard assays. For biofilm, the Bliss independence model was applied using MBIC (minimum biofilm inhibitory concentration) and the concentration yielding ≥90% biomass reduction, as measured by crystal violet (CV) staining. MUR showed potent activity against planktonic cells (MIC50/90: 0.25/0.5 mg l-1). Synergy tests revealed consistent MUR-colistin synergy across all strains, with notable interactions against carbapenemase-producers when combined with meropenem. In biofilms, MUR demonstrated significantly lower MBIC and lower concentrations required for ≥90% biomass reduction (CV staining). Bliss analysis confirmed strong synergistic biofilm inhibition in all combinations, most pronounced with tobramycin. MUR exhibits high efficacy against both planktonic and biofilm-forming MDR P. aeruginosa. Its synergy with colistin and tobramycin highlights its potential as a strategic combination partner.

Microplastics in coastal waters provide persistent surfaces for microbial colonization and biofilm formation, supporting complex microbial assemblages known as the plastisphere. This study examines the plastisphere-biofouling nexus through a PRISMA-guided systematic review, bibliometric mapping, narrative-quantitative synthesis, and conceptual evidence integration of studies published between 2015 and 2025. From 1,248 records identified in Web of Science Core Collection and Scopus, 124 primary studies were retained for comparative synthesis. The reviewed evidence shows that microplastics frequently support distinct biofilm-associated microbial communities, although reported patterns vary across polymer type, exposure duration, environmental setting, microbial method, and biofilm measurement approach. Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes were repeatedly reported among dominant bacterial groups, while opportunistic genera such as Vibrio and Pseudoalteromonas were detected in some plastisphere biofilms. Evidence for polymer-specific microbial diversity, contaminant retention, and environmental-driver effects remains context-dependent. Biofilm-coated microplastics may modify contaminant interactions under specific conditions, but current evidence does not support universal contaminant enhancement, confirmed pathogen transmission, or direct human health risk. This review identifies the plastisphere-biofouling nexus as an emerging ecological interface in coastal waters and highlights the need for standardized, field-relevant, and functionally validated studies.

Biofouling significantly degrades vessel performance by increasing fuel consumption, harmful emissions (SO2, NOx, CO2), and maintenance costs, underscoring the role of effective fouling control coatings. However, the accuracy of antifouling coating performance assessments may be compromised by local fouling dynamics, particularly the influence of adjacent biofouled surfaces. This study investigates how proximity to pre-fouled panels coated with an epoxy primer affects biofouling settlement and growth on newly immersed coatings under both static and dynamic exposure conditions. Panels placed adjacent to heavily fouled surfaces exhibited accelerated colonization, with fouling coverage nearly doubling within three weeks compared to isolated controls. In static exposures, proximity led to the bypassing of early biofilm stages through lateral propagation via spores, sloughed fragments, and biofilm material. Under dynamic conditions, hydrodynamic forces amplified this effect, promoting faster dispersal and settlement, particularly of filamentous green and brown algae. These findings reveal that local propagation can significantly alter biofouling succession and growth rates, resulting in earlier community development and increased fouling intensity. Without careful spatial separation and test design, localized fouling pressure may be artificially elevated, leading to skewed interpretations of antifouling performance. Conversely, controlled propagation may serve as a tool for accelerated stress testing under high-biofouling conditions. This study emphasizes the need to account for biofouling propagation in experimental design to ensure reliable, reproducible antifouling evaluations.

Catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) are driven by biofilm formation on catheter surfaces. Poly(2-methoxyethyl acrylate) (PMEA) is a blood-compatible polymer that suppresses protein adsorption and may inhibit bacterial attachment through a non-bactericidal anti-adhesive mechanism. This study evaluated the antibiofilm effect of PMEA coating using a blood-based in vitro model.A blood-based in vitro model was established using bovine blood to better reproduce the protein-rich intravascular environment associated with CRBSIs. Polyurethane catheter segments with or without PMEA coating were incubated for 7 days in bovine serum containing Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 or Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 35984, with or without prior plasma exposure. Biofilm biomass was quantified by toluidine blue staining and spectrophotometric measurement of absorbance at 632 nm.PMEA coating significantly suppressed biofilm formation, corresponding to an approximately 92% reduction compared with uncoated catheters. Plasma exposure markedly enhanced biofilm formation, producing an approximately 23-fold increase relative to non-exposed conditions. PMEA coating did not affect planktonic bacterial growth, supporting a non-bactericidal mechanism of action.These findings suggest that PMEA suppresses catheter-associated biofilm formation by inhibiting plasma protein adsorption and subsequent bacterial attachment. Modulation of host protein-surface interactions may represent an effective strategy for preventing CRBSIs without relying on bactericidal activity.

Biofouling-communities of organisms that grow on submerged hard surfaces-creates pathways for the spread of invasive marine species and diseases. To manage this risk, international vessels are increasingly required to demonstrate effective biofouling management, which in turn necessitates underwater inspections and the analysis of large volumes of hull imagery to verify biofouling status. Automated assessment with computer vision can streamline this process. This work shows how the interpretable Component Features (ComFe) approach, combined with a DINOv2 Vision Transformer (ViT) foundation model, can address this challenge efficiently and effectively. ComFe achieves competitive performance in comparison to previous non-interpretable CNN methods, with fewer parameters and greater transparency-highlighting which image regions and training examples drive classifications. All code, data, and model weights are publicly released.

Natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) have recently emerged as promising 'green' antibiofilm agents due to their ability to solubilize biological macromolecules. In this study, three chemically distinct NADES formulations were evaluated against Pseudomonas fluorescens WCS365 and Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 35984. The tested formulations choline chloride-lactic acid (CCLA), choline chloride-urea (CCU), and choline chloride-xylitol (CCX) were assessed for their effects on planktonic growth, biofilm formation, and mature biofilms. All NADES showed moderate inhibition of planktonic growth, while biofilm formation was significantly reduced in a formulation- and species-dependent manner, with CCLA displaying the strongest activity. Treatment of pre-formed 24 h biofilms resulted in partial but significant biomass reduction, reaching up to ∼69% for P. fluorescens and ∼51% for S. epidermidis. Confocal microscopy confirmed pronounced structural disruption of mature biofilms following NADES exposure, particularly for CCLA. These findings highlight the potential of organic acid-based NADES as biocides, which are more environmentally compatible than conventional biocides.