Biofilm

Definition: A biofilm is an assemblage of microbial cells that is irreversibly associated (not

removed by gentle rinsing) with a surface and enclosed in a matrix of primarily
polysaccharide material.

Structure of Biofilms:
1. Structure of biofilms is a complex four-dimensional structure (X, Y, Z, and time) with
cell aggregates, interstitial pores, and conduit channels.

2. Thickness of biofilms differs according to bacterial species, Pure cultures of K.

pneumoniae form biofilms which were15 μm to 30μm in thickness

3. Biofilms are composed primarily of microbial cells and EPS which accounts for
account for 50% to 90% of the total organic carbon of biofilms and is considered to be
the primary matrix material of the biofilm.

4. Uronic acids or ketal-linked pryruvates of EPS confers the anionic property which
helps in the association with metal ions, divalent cations, other macromolecules.

5. EPS is also highly hydrated because it can incorporate large amounts of water into its
structure by hydrogen bonding.

6. EPS production is known to be affected by nutrient status of the growth medium;

excess available carbon and limitation of nitrogen, potassium, or phosphate promote
EPS synthesis

Microbial Mats
 Depending on environmental conditions, biofilms can become so large, with extreme
gradients that they are visible and have macroscopic dimensions called microbial
mats.
 Found in many freshwater and marine environments: at the surface of rocks or
sediments in hypersaline and freshwater lakes, lagoons, hot springs, and beach areas
 They consist of filamentous microbes, including cyanobacteria.
 Visible light only penetrates approximately 1 mm into these communities, and below
this photosynthetic zone, anoxic conditions occur and sulfate-reducing bacteria play a
major role.
 The sulphide that these organisms produce diffuses to the anoxic lighted region,
allowing sulfur-dependent photosynthetic microorganisms to grow.
Formation of Biofilms

Attachment:
 The solid-liquid interface between a surface and an aqueous medium (e.g., water,
blood) provides an ideal environment for the attachment and growth of
microorganisms.
 Microbial colonization appears to increase as the surface roughness, hydrophobicity,
nonpolar characteristic increases.
 Characteristics of the aqueous medium, such as pH, nutrient levels, ionic strength, and
temperature, may play a role in the rate of microbial attachment to a substratum.
 Cell surface hydrophobicity, presence of fimbriae and flagella, and production of EPS
all influence the rate and extent of attachment of microbial cells.
 An increase in flow velocity, water temperature, or nutrient concentration results in
the increased rate of bacterial attachment onto the substratum.

Dispersion:
Biofilm cells may be dispersed either by shedding of daughter cells from actively growing
cells, detachment as a
result of nutrient levels or quorum sensing, or shearing of biofilm aggregates (continuous
removal of small portions of the biofilm) because of flow effects.

Hydrophobicity was lowest for the newly dispersed cells and steadily increases upon
continued incubation
and growth.

Alginate is the major component of the EPS ,growing cells produce alginate lyase as a result
cells become free to disperse.