What is Biofilm?
Biofilm is a microbial functional community occurring on a surface as a slime layer.
Biofilms are tri- dimensional structure that is visible by confocal microscopy.
Biofilms are biological systems where the bactria are organised into co - ordinated, functional communities.
Biofilms are attached to surface of rock in a pond, a human tooth ( plaque) and mucous membranes.
A biofilm is usually begins to form when a free - swimming bacterium attaches to a surface. If these bacteria grow in a uniformly thick monolayer, nutrients will not be available in lower depths and toxic wastes may accumulate.
Bacteria in biofilm communities avoid these problems by forming pillar like structures. This constitutes a primitive circulatory system.
A biofilm composed of a surface layer is 10 micrometer thick, with pillars that may extend up to 200 micrometer above it.
Functions of Biofilms:
1) Within a biofilm community, the bacteria are able to share nutrients.
2) Bacteria are sheltered from harmful environments, for example, dessication, antibiotics and immune system of body.
3) The microbes in the digestive system of ruminant animals break down cellulose.
4) Biofilms are also essential elements in proper functioning of sewage system.
Problems of Biofilms:
1) Microbes in biofilms are 100 times more resistant to microbicides than others.
2) Most nosocomial infections are caused by biofilms.
3) Biofilms formed by the fungi Candida are encountered in infections related to the use of contact lenses.
Dental caries are caused by pseudomonad bacteria.
Prevention of Biofilms:
1) Incorporation of antimicrobials into surfaces on which biofilm forms.
2) Biofilm formation can be inhibited by lactoferrin. Lactoferrin chelates irons among the pseudomonads responsible for cystic fibrosis biofilms. The lack of iron inhibits the surface mobility essential for the aggregation of bacteria into biofilms.
The Daily Youth- tdy24.com Present "Biofilm" Written By
Sadia Akhtar
Student of Department of Microbiology
Jagannath University.
Email- sadiabd810@yahoo.com
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