Multi-species biofilms in ecology, medicine, and biotechnology

The structure, composition, and developmental patterns of multi-species biofilms are analyzed, as are the mechanisms of interaction of their microbial components. The main methodological approaches used for analysis of multi-species biofilms, including omics technologies, are characterized. Environmental communities (cyanobacterial mats and methanotrophic communities), as well as typical multi-species communities of medical importance (oral cavity, skin, and intestinal microbiomes), are described. A special section deals with the role of multi-species biofilms in such biotechnological processes as wastewater treatment, heavy metal removal, corrosion control, and environmental bioremediation.