Recent insights into bacterial biofilm matrix structures have induced a paradigm shift toward the recognition of amyloid fibers
as common building block structures that confer stability to the exopolysaccharide matrix. Here we describe the functional amyloid
systems related to biofilm matrix formation in both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and recent knowledge regarding
the interaction of amyloids with other biofilm matrix components such as extracellular DNA (eDNA) and the host immune
system. In addition, we summarize the efforts to identify compounds that target amyloid fibers for therapeutic purposes
and recent developments that take advantage of the amyloid structure to engineer amyloid fibers of bacterial biofilm matrices for
biotechnological applications.This work, including the efforts of Jaione Valle, was funded by Ministerio
de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO) (AGL2011-23954). This
work, including the efforts of Íñigo Lasa, was funded by Ministerio de
Economía y Competitividad (MINECO) (BIO2011-30503-C02-02 and
BIO2014-53530-R)
