Professional Documents
Culture Documents
A. INTRO
I.
What is biofilm?
- Include characteristics
- Image and its parts
- Definition and description in general
II.
Why it is formed?
- Significance of this
- What triggers its formation
B. BIOFILM AS AN ENVIRONMENT
I.
Biofilm formation
-thorough discussion about this
- each step should be explained clearly (5steps)
II.
ADVANTAGES
Biofilms can render a number of advantages to the microorganism
itself and contribute positively to industrial and medical advances.
MICROORGANISM
Biofilm formation in bacteria naturally become advantageous as it
enables growth in low nutrient or oligotrophic conditions. Firstly, the
negatively charged extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) of the biofilm
matrix and its hydrophobicity render it an effective nutrient scavenger by
concentrating ions and dissolved organic carbon compounds from the
oligotrophic environment (Cunningham, Lennox, & Ross, 2008). Secondly,
mature biofilms render higher resistance to environmental stresses such as
shear flow and presence of antimicrobial agents at concentrations much
higher than planktonic bacteria. Aside from nutrient deprivation, bacteria
within the biofilm can also withstand pH fluctuations and presence of oxygen
radicals. Thirdly, biofilms allow the bacteria to remain within their favourable
environmental niches and may provide interactive communities for higher
gene transfer. The environmental niches in the form of microhabitats can be
observed in the biofilm structure. The O2 concentration in the bulk fluid and
at the surface of the biofilm is sufficient enough to house aerobic
microorganisms while the center of the biofilm is essentially anaerobic
housing
facultative
anaerobic
and
obligate
anaerobic
bacteria.
This
for overall water quality and ecological status of the system. Some Biofilms
are used for waste water treatments through the use of sand filters that act
as support for microbial attachment which leads to biofilm adaptation to the