Science Snippet: Brush Up on Biofilms

A biofilm is a highly organized community of microorganisms that develops naturally on certain surfaces. Typically, biofilms are made up of microbes and an extracellular matrix that they produce. This matrix can include polysaccharides (chains of sugars), proteins, lipids, DNA, and other molecules. The matrix gives the biofilm structure and helps it stick to a surface. Formation of a biofilm often involves a process called quorum sensing. In this process, microbes detect when they reach a certain population density and change their behavior in ways that help them function as a community. Biofilms are common and help microbes protect themselves from threats, such as extreme environmental conditions and single-celled animals called protozoa that feed on other microorganisms. A biofilm formed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria. Credit: Scott Chimileski, Ph.D., and Roberto Kolter, Ph.D. Harvard Medical School. Humans can also benefit from biofilms. For example, engineers harness natural biofilm development for the treatment of wastewater, decontamination of soil, and extraction of copper and other minerals from metal ore. But biofilms are highly resistant to antibiotic medicines and can be harmful to humans, like when they form on implanted medical devices. They also contribute to common oral diseases such as tooth decay and gum disease, and they can cause chronically infected foot ulcers in people with diabetes. NIGMS-Funded Biofilm Research Biomedical scie...
Source: Biomedical Beat Blog - National Institute of General Medical Sciences - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Cells Injury and Illness Bacteria Biofilms Microbes Source Type: blogs