Beneficial Biofilms
- In natural environments. As we have already pointed out, biofilms are all around us, on us, and in us. Obviously, then,...
- Water and wastewater treatment. Treating Waste Water with a Biofilm. One of the best examples of successful, beneficial...
- Remediation of contaminated soil and groundwater. Soil and Groundwater Remediation. One of the less obvious...
What are the advantages of living in a biofilm?
- Introduction to Biofilms
- Properties of Biofilms
- The Significance of Biofilms in Biotechnology
- Biofilms in Health and Medicine
- Diffusion in Biofilms
What are biofilms and why are they important?
They have been found on some devices more than others, including:
- Catheters, or tubes inserted in the body to deliver treatment or remove bodily fluids (especially central venous catheters and urinary catheters)
- Prosthetic joints
- Mechanical heart valves
- Pacemakers
- Contact lenses
- Endotracheal tubes, used to help breathing or administer anesthesia
- Intrauterine devices used as contraceptives
Are biofilms good or bad?
The truth is that all biofilms are not bad. We can even look to nature to provide fine examples of biofilms, such as fuel cells and marine engineering systems. Recently however, there has been a lot of attention on biofilm formation on contact lenses and lens storage cases. Let’s discuss.
Why are biofilms important to US?
The guide covers:
- How to seed Staphylococcus Aureus (S. ...
- How to pre-treat the scaffold with antimicrobial drugs prior to seeding to investigate their effect on biofilm formation.
- How to examine the influence of biofilm microbes on bone cells and bone homeostasis without the use of animal models.
Which is an example of beneficial biofilm for human health?
Water and wastewater treatment Treating Waste Water with a Biofilm. One of the best examples of successful, beneficial application of biofilms to solve a huge problem is in the treatment of wastewater. Think of it this way.
Why is a biofilm important?
Cells may also communicate via quorum sensing, which may in turn affect biofilm processes such as detachment. Biofilms have great importance for public health because of their role in certain infectious diseases and importance in a variety of device-related infections.
What is biofilm for human?
The term biofilm is used to denote a polymer-encased community of microbes which accumulates at a surface. Biofilms are responsible for a number of diseases of man and, because of the intrinsic resistance of these structures to antibiotics and host defence systems, such diseases are very difficult to treat effectively.
Why are biofilms important medically?
The effects of biofilms are seen primarily in 4 ways by facilitating the emergence of antimicrobial drug resistance, generating chronic infections, the modulation of host immune response, and the contamination of medical devices.
Why are biofilms important in human health and environmental processes?
Biofilms show an increased survival and resistance to environmental and chemical stressors (e.g., antibiotics) mainly, but not only, by the protection conferred by the extracellular polysaccharide matrix (Mah and O'Toole, 2001; Stewart and Costerton, 2001; Donlan, 2002; Donlan and Costerton, 2002; Stewart, 2002; Hall- ...
How is a biofilm beneficial to bacteria?
It can be seen that biofilms provide protection for bacteria and make them more suitable for the external environment under certain conditions. Generally, bacterial biofilm formation relies on the interaction between the bacterial cells, the substrates and the surrounding media (Van Houdt and Michiels, 2010).
Are biofilms common in humans?
The National Institutes of Health estimates that more than 80% of microbial infections in the human body are caused by biofilm, many of them creating chronic and reoccurring problems.
Which is an example of biofilms in everyday life?
One common example of a biofilm dental plaque, a slimy buildup of bacteria that forms on the surfaces of teeth. Pond scum is another example. Biofilms have been found growing on minerals and metals.
Why is the prevention of biofilms important in a health care environment?
The importance of biofilms in healthcare arises due to biofilms' increased tolerance to biocides and increased tolerance to desiccation when compared with planktonic organisms of the same species.
Why is biofilm important?
Biofilm formation is a critical issue for almost all surfaces in health care and food preparation settings. Biofilms can grow on medical implants, creating the opportunity for infections to flourish and even facilitate human deaths, for these tough microbial communities can resist antibiotics and evade the immune system.
How does biofilm work?
The biofilm operates more like a multicellular organism than a collection of organisms, increasing the odds of survival among “community” members. Bacterial colonies even communicate among themselves by a primitive system of chemical signals. Any bacterium can form a biofilm once it finds a place to stick.
What is the name of the process that causes biofilms to grow?
Biofilms eventually develop on the interiors of most water distribution systems. Known as “biofouling,” the microbial growth represents a contamination that may present a threat to public health. As noted above, biofilms can harbor human pathogens that are difficult to kill. Chlorinating the water supply is the usual method employed to control biofilm growth. Superchlorination, in which chlorine levels are raised temporarily, may be combined with mechanical flushing and scouring, and used when biofilm causes water quality problems.
How can biofilms be used in water treatment?
As raw water trickles through sand grains, bacteria that feed on organic material in the water attach to the grains, setting up biofilm colonies. The constant stream of nutrients “feeds” the biofilms, clearing the water of the undesired organic matter. Biofilm-treated water requires less disinfectant and forms fewer disinfection byproducts.
What are the products of metabolism of the bacteria in plaque?
The products of metabolism of the bacteria in plaque are responsible for tooth decay and gum disease. Biofilms can harbor human infectious agents in the environment, but they also can promote remediation of contaminated groundwater and soils.
How do biofilms affect the environment?
Dental plaque is a common example of a biofilm that forms on tooth surfaces. The products of metabolism of the bacteria in plaque are responsible for tooth decay and gum disease. Biofilms can harbor human infectious agents in the environment, but they also can promote remediation of contaminated groundwater and soils. They assist in metals mining and they play an important natural role recycling matter on Earth. Hence, understanding “the good and the bad” characteristics of biofilms under diverse conditions is of great interest.
Why is it important to clean and disinfect food contact surfaces?
coli and Salmonella the opportunity to survive. Thus, cleaning and disinfecting key surfaces to prevent or remove biofilms helps to prevent the spread of institutional infections and foodborne illness.
Why are biofilms so difficult to treat?
This is because the immune system does not deal well with biofilms and biofilms are almost 1000 times more resistant to antibiotics than free-floating bacteria. In the case of infections caused by implantable medical devices, the device is often removed.
How do biofilms form?
Biofilms form in several stages. First, the bacteria accumulates on a surface. They may arrive at the surface through random motions or be carried by the flow of a fluid suspension. If the organism is motile, they can be guided to the surface by a chemotactic or other mechanism.
What happens to bacteria after they have completed the adhesion phase?
Once the bacteria have completed the adhesion phase, they enter colonization. In the colonization stage, the bacteria synthesizes extracellular matrix molecules and the number of attached bacteria is increased. These additional organisms may be the same or different species as the already-adhered cells.
Where are biofilms found?
Image Credit: Kateryna Kon / Shutterstock. In the human body, bacterial biofilms can be found on many surfaces such as the skin, teeth, and mucosa. Plaque that forms on teeth is an example of a biofilm. Most bacteria are capable of forming biofilms. However, certain species have more of a disposition toward biofilms than others.
Can biofilms form on a catheter?
Biofilms can also form on implantable medical devices. Devices that partially penetrate the skin, such as a central venous catheter, can become coated with bacterial biofilms. Biofilms can form on fully implanted devices such as artificial hip or knee joints too. Urinary catheters frequently have biofilms of Escherichia coli, for example.
Do bacteria have biofilms?
Most bacteria are capable of forming biofilms. However, certain species have more of a disposition toward biofilms than others. In addition to plaque-forming bacteria on teeth, streptococci staphylococci, and lactobacilli also frequently form biofilms.
Do bacteria adhere to substratum?
The bacteria rarely adheres to the substratum directly. Instead, it deposits a layer of molecules known as a conditioning film. The bacteria then adheres to the conditioning film.
What are biofilms used for?
One of the less obvious beneficial applications of biofilms is in cleaning up oil and gasoline spills. That's right, certain bacteria will eat oil and gasoline. Remember that oil was produced over many years by decaying vegetation, so it is an organic compound.
How can biofilms be used to solve a problem?
One of the best examples of successful, beneficial application of biofilms to solve a huge problem is in the treatment of wastewater. Think of it this way. We know that microorganisms are the main agents that cause decay in dead plants and animals. Decay happens (partly) as the microorganisms feed on the tissue of the dead organism. Since that is true, perhaps one could engineer a system that uses the proper microorganisms (in the form of a biofilm) to process wastewater and sewage: if the contaminated water were passed through such a biofilm, perhaps the microorganisms in the biofilm would eat (and thus remove) the harmful organic material from the water.
What makes up the majority of the living biomass on Earth?
Microbes make up the majority of the living biomass on Earth and, as such, have major roles in the recycling of elements vital to life.". Imagine that! "Microbes make up the majority of the living biomass on Earth," and, as we are learning, those microbes often live in biofilm colonies on surfaces.
When was biofilms first used?
English engineers developed the first sand filter treatment methods for both water and wastewater treatment in the 1860s.
Do bacteria colonize biofilms?
It is important to recognize that microorganisms, such as bacteria, that colonize in biofilms have evolved along with other organisms, including human beings. While some bacteria produce effects that are bad for other organisms, most bacteria are harmless or even beneficial.
Is biofilm water more biocompatible than other water treatment systems?
Interestingly, scientists and water treatment engineers have discovered that drinking water and wastewater that have been process ed with a biofilm system in a treatment plant are more "biologically stable" than water filtered by other types of treatment systems. This just means that there is likely to be less microorganism contamination in water that has passed through a biofilm-based filter than there is in water that has passed through some alternative treatment system. This implies that biofilm treated water typically has lower disinfectant demand (e.g., use of chlorine) and disinfection by products (e.g., that unsavory taste and smell of chlorine) than water treated in other ways if the water prior to treatment is high in the kind of nutrients the biofilm craves (which in this case is organic carbon).
How do biofilms affect human health?
Biofilms can be found almost anywhere and may impact human health both positively and negatively. One example of a positive effect includes the biofilms of commensal bacteria such as Staphylococcus epidermidis, which can impede the colonisation of potentially pathogenic bacteria through the stimulation of host-cell immune defences and the prevention of adhesion. However, biofilms are more often associated with many pathogenic forms of human diseases and plant infections. One common example is cystic fibrosis, the most frequently passed genetic disorder in Western Europe. Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients suffer from chronic P. aeruginosa infections. When infecting the CF lung, P. aeruginosa undergoes a characteristic transition from an acute virulent pathogen to a CF‑adapted pathogen, allowing it to persist in the lung for years or even decades. This is due to the overproduction of the matrix polysaccharide alginate, leading to the formation of a mucoid biofilm that tolerates antibiotics, components of both the innate and adaptive immune response, and resists phagocytosis. The persistence of these mucoid biofilms within the CF lung leads to the development of a distinct antibody response. This prompts chronic inflammation mediated by granulocytes, and results in severe damage to the lung tissue of CF patients (see Figure 3 A). A second example for biofilms in human health is dental plaque potentially leading to dental caries. The consumption of fermentable carbohydrates such as sugary treats or drinks causes an increase in the production and secretion of organic acids by the bacteria found in dental plaque. If left untreated, the increased acidification of the biofilm leads to the demineralisation of the enamel and the formation of dental caries (see Figure 3 B).
Why is biofilm research important?
Due to the widespread distribution of biofilms in diseases and their resilience to numerous antimicrobial treatments, biofilm research is receiving more attention. Owing to increasing antimicrobial resistance, the focus of current research is shifting from targeting bacterial growth/division that causes cell death or dormancy, towards novel approaches. Examples include triggering the dispersal of the biofilm or looking into ways of preventing the initial formation, for instance by re-engineering the surfaces they are prone to develop upon such as urinary catheters and implants.
How do bacteria form biofilm?
The bacteria then form a monolayer and irreversibly attach by producing an extracellular matrix (2) . Next, a microcolony is formed where multilayers appear (3). During later stages, the biofilm is mature, forming characteristic “mushroom” structures due the polysaccharides (4). Finally, some cells start to detach and the biofilm (shown in yellow) will disperse (5). Adapted from Vasudevan, 2014, J Microbiol Exp 1 (3): 00014. DOI: 10.15406/jmen.2014.01.00014.
What happens when bacteria contact the surface?
The bacteria will then start to form a monolayer and will produce an extracellular matrix or “slime” for protection.
What is the difference between a cystic fibrosis lung and a dental plaque?
(A) In a healthy lung, the epithelial cells of the airway are covered with a thin layer of mucus whereas the airway of a CF lung contains a thick, sticky mucus including bacterial biofilms leading to damaging of the cells and breathing problems. (B) Dental plaque is formed on top of the teeth where acid produced by the bacteria dissolves the tooth enamel leading to infections and dental caries.
What is biofilm?
What is a biofilm? A common misconception of microbial living is that bacteria exist as individual organisms in a ‘planktonic state’. Rather, microorganisms have been shown to naturally accumulate on a wide variety of surfaces; where they form sessile, sedentary communities.
Is biofilm irreversible?
The biofilm grows in a three-dimensional manner and the attachment is now irreversible. In the last stage, some cells of the mature biofilm start to detach and disperse into the environment as planktonic cells again to potentially start a new cycle of biofilm formation.
Why are biofilms important?
Bacterial biofilm is a key reason for the contamination of medical devices and the generation of microbial and chronic infections in the body . In fact, biofilms are the source of a number of human diseases as they cause serious infections and have antimicrobial drug resistant features. Especially, the microbial cells living inside biofilms are much ...
What is a biofilm?
Biofilms are clusters of one or more living microorganisms, or microbes, such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses that are attached to a surface and embedded in a self-produced matrix designed for the survival of organisms .
How do biofilms form?
The ability of microbes to form biofilms is ancient and has been detected back to 3.4 billion years ago [1]. Biofilm formation can occur at any given surface if the environment contains protein and other molecules. The formation initiates with the microbes attaching to the conditioned surface [2, 3]. Gradually, the microbes from a slimy matrix of various polymers which is called an extracellular matrix (ECM) or an extracellular polymeric substance (EPS). This matrix includes proteins, polysaccharides, glycolipids, glycoproteins, and DNA. The polymer combination in the EPS and ECM depends on the microbes in the biofilm, and the attachment to the object is stabled by the EPS [1]. Over time, the biofilm thickens and matures together with the reproduction of the microbes and secretion of additional polymers. Eventually, the location and condition in the biofilm becomes harmful to the microbes, and this promotes detachment and escape of the cells [1, 2].
What causes biofilms in implants?
Biofilms cause foreign body implant infections. An example of a bacterial strain associated with the infection of implants made from foreign body materials is Pseudomonas aeruginosa [5], while the most frequent cause of biofilm associated infections in medical devices and implants is Staphylococcus aureus. During an antibiotic treatment, the ...
What is the purpose of P3D scaffold?
To reach an understanding of biofilm formation mechanisms, the P3D scaffold can be used to investigate microbe attachment and how biofilm-residing cells interact with 1) each other, 2) synthetic bone implants, and 3) bone cells.
What are slime encased communities of microbes?
They are complex, slime-encased communities of microbes which are often seen as slime layers on objects in water or at water-air interfaces [1, 2]. Especially, microbes in aquatic environments are more often found in the sessile form (in the so called biofilms on surfaces) than in the planktonic, free-floating, form [1, 2].
Is biofilm a chronic infection?
Since biofilm-residing bacteria tend to be resilient to the immune system, antibiotics, and other treatments, biofilm infections are typically chronic in nature [6].
Why do biofilms differ from aerobic to anaerobic?
These differences are largely due to diffusion restriction and metabolic consumption by aerobic and facultative bacteria within the biofilm.
What is the EPS of a biofilm?
The EPS of the biofilm matrix is negatively charged and hydrophobic. These properties enable the biofilm to concentrate ions and dissolved organic carbon compounds from the oligotrophic bulk fluid. Thus biofilms can grow in nutrient conditions that do not permit the growth of planktonic cells.
What can be used to detect the physiological condition of bacteria?
Fluorescent molecular probes can be combined with confocal microscopy to reveal the physiological condition of bacteria with in the biofilm. Redox sensitive probes such as fluorescine can indicate the level of metabolic activity within individual cells or masses of cells.
Why were bacteria added to a bottle?
Bacteria were added to a bottle containing a nutrient concentration too limited to support planktonic growth. The number of bacteria in the fluid portion of the system decreased and it was found that they had attached themselves to the wall of the container.
Can biofilms be grown in monoculture?
In the laboratory, biofilms are often, although not always, grown in monoculture. Even in these single species biofilms there have been shown to be a great range of microhabitat niches. The use of techniques such as confocal microscopy in combination with physiologically responsive fluorescent dyes, and microelectrodes which can be placed ...
Is biofilm a good way to live?
The nearly universal existence of biofilms suggests that living in this "lifestyle" carries some pretty significant payoffs. As far as we can tell, biofilms have been and remain the dominant life forms on the planet. To have persisted in such abundance over such a lengthy period of time implies that this is a very advantageous way of life. Although not exhaustive, the following may represent some of the major benefits associated with biofilm formation.
How Do Bacterial Biofilms Cause Disease?
Can Biofilms Protect from Disease?
- Some biofilms also protect against disease. For example, the vagina is covered with a biofilm of lactobacilli which prevents colonization by pathogenic bacteria. A disruption of the vaginal biofilm can lead to infection. Another example is a biofilm of healthy bacteria on the teeth, which prevents colonization by pathogenic bacteria.
Formation of A Biofilm
- Biofilms form in several stages. First, the bacteria accumulates on a surface. They may arrive at the surface through random motions or be carried by the flow of a fluid suspension. If the organism is motile, they can be guided to the surface by a chemotactic or other mechanism. The bacteria rarely adheres to the substratum directly. Instead, it deposits a layer of molecules know…
References
- Bacterial biofilms and human disease, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11732158
- Microbial biofilm in human health - an updated theoretical and practical insight, https://content.sciendo.com/view/journals/rrlm/25/1/article-p9.xml
- Role for biofilms in infectious disease, http://www.asmscience.org/content/book/10.1128/9781555817718.chap18
- Bacterial biofilms and human disease, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11732158
- Microbial biofilm in human health - an updated theoretical and practical insight, https://content.sciendo.com/view/journals/rrlm/25/1/article-p9.xml
- Role for biofilms in infectious disease, http://www.asmscience.org/content/book/10.1128/9781555817718.chap18
- Microbial biofilms and gastrointestinal diseases, https://academic.oup.com/femspd/article/67/1/25/2367312
Further Reading
in Natural Environments
Water and Wastewater Treatment
- One of the best examples of successful, beneficial application of biofilms to solve a huge problem is in the treatment of wastewater. Think of it this way. We know that microorganisms are the main agents that cause decay in dead plants and animals. Decay happens (partly) as the microorganisms feed on the tissue of the dead organism. Since that is t...
Remediation of Contaminated Soil and Groundwater
- One of the less obvious beneficial applications of biofilms is in cleaning up oil and gasoline spills. That's right, certain bacteria will eat oil and gasoline. Remember that oil was produced over many years by decaying vegetation, so it is an organic compound. We wouldn't recommend that you suck up any spilled oil or gasoline, but the fact that some of the naturally occurring bacteria in s…
Microbial Leaching
- As you probably know, mining for precious metals of various kinds (gold, silver, copper and so forth) is a messy job. The desired metal is not generally found in nice, big, pure chunks. The largest gold nugget ever found was reputed to weigh about 70 Kilograms. But most gold, as with all other precious metals, is generally hard to see with the naked eye, mixed in the ground with di…