About the Journal

Applied Biofilm Science (ABS) is a peer-reviewed, interdisciplinary journal dedicated to the study of bacterial biofilms and their real-world impacts. Traditional microbiology often silos research into "environmental," "industrial," or "clinical" categories. However, biofilms do not respect these boundaries.

Our journal is built on the reality that the same biofilm mechanisms that allow pathogens to persist on stainless steel in a food processing facility are often the very mechanisms that enable them to survive human immune responses and antibiotic treatments.

By breaking down the traditional barriers between food science, environmental engineering, and medical microbiology, Applied Biofilm Science serves as the premier platform for researchers working to understand, control, and eradicate biofilms across the continuum of survival. We publish high-impact, actionable science that translates laboratory discoveries into practical solutions for food safety, industrial hygiene, and human health.

Aims and Scope

The specific guidelines for authors outlining exactly what the journal publishes.

Our Aims

Applied Biofilm Science aims to publish rigorous, high-quality research that advances our understanding of sessile microbial communities. We specifically prioritize translational research that connects environmental or industrial biofilm behavior with downstream consequences for human health.

Scope of Coverage

The journal welcomes original research articles, comprehensive reviews, short communications, and methodological papers covering the following core areas:

• Food and Industrial Biofilms: The formation, persistence, and eradication of biofilms in food processing, agriculture, and water distribution systems. This includes studies on surface attachment, biocide resistance, and cross-contamination mechanisms.

• Clinical and Medical Biofilms: Biofilm-associated human infections, including those on medical devices, implants, and human tissues. This covers chronic infections, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) within the biofilm matrix, and host-pathogen interactions.

• The Matrix and Microbiome: The biochemical and structural composition of the extracellular polymeric substance (EPS), multi-species consortia dynamics, and quorum sensing.

• Control and Eradication Strategies: The development of novel antimicrobials, surface coatings, bacteriophage therapies, enzymes, and physical interventions designed to disrupt biofilms in either clinical or industrial settings.

• Methodological Innovations: New techniques for culturing, visualizing, and quantifying biofilms, including advanced microscopy, sequencing, and in vitro/in vivo modeling.

What We Do Not Cover

To maintain our focus on applied biofilm research, the journal generally does not accept:

• Studies focusing exclusively on planktonic (free-floating) bacterial behavior, unless explicitly compared to the sessile state.

• Purely ecological studies of environmental biofilms (e.g., deep-sea vents or soil ecology) that have no direct or indirect application to industry, food systems, or human health.