Biofilm: Importance and applications

作者：Chandrakant Kokare, Samrat Chakraborty, Abhijeet Khopade, Kakasaheb Mahadik · 发表于：Indian Journal of Biotechnology · 年份：2009 · 被引用次数：232 · 研究领域：Bacterial biofilms and quorum sensing、Oral microbiology and periodontitis research、Legionella and Acanthamoeba research

Biofilm is an assemblage of the microbial cells that is irreversibly associated with a surface and usually enclosed in a matrix of polysaccharide material. Biofilm is composed primarily of microbial cells and extracellular polymeric substance (EPS). Extracellular polymeric matrix plays various roles in structure and function of different biofilm communities. Adhesion to the surface provides considerable advantages such as protection against antimicrobial agents, acquisition of new genetic traits, and the nutrient availability and metabolic co-operability. Anthony van Leeuwenhoek, who discovered microbial attachment to his own tooth surface, is credited with the discovery of biofilm. The formation of biofilm takes place in three steps. Biofilm is responsible for chronic bacterial infection, infection on medical devices, deterioration of water quality and the contamination of food. This article provides an overview of the formation of biofilm, structure, role in microbial communities and its applications.