Question

What is a biofilm and what role does biofilm play in disease?

Answer 1

A biofilm is a thick layer of prokaryotic organisms that have aggregated to form a colony.the colony attaches to a surface with a slime layer which aids in protecting the microorganisms. there are a number of reasons who biofilms are formed which promote growth and survival or the microorganisms.

ROLE OF BIOFILIM IN DISEAS

Biofilm formation represents a protected mode of growth that renders bacterial cells less susceptible to antimicrobials and to killing by host immune effector mechanisms and so enables the pathogen to survive in hostile environments and also to disperse and colonize new niches.

.Biofilms can be found almost anywhere and may impact human health both positive and negatively.one examples of positive effects includes the biofilims of commensal bacteria such as staphylococcus epidermis.which can impede the colonisation of potentially pathogenic bacteria through the stimulation of host cells immune defences and the prevention of adhesion. however , biofilms are more often associated with many pathogenic forms of human diseases and plant infections.

physiochemical properties o f biofilms

.Microbes attach more rapidly to teflone and other plastics than glass or metals.

. Conditioning filims formed when a material surface is exposed to aquous medium and becomes conditioned or coated by polymers from the medium , the resulting modification fill affect bthe rate and extend of microbial attachments,

HYDRODYNAMICS

The flow velocity immediately adjacent to the substratum or liquir interfere is negligible.Higher velocities should be expected to a more rapid attachments or association to the surface , at least you until velocities become high enough to exert substantial shear for zone the attaching cells., the resulting detachment of these cells .

characteristics of aqous media

. sessonal effects of bacterial attachments depends on water temperature

. Increase in concentration of cations effects attachments persumably by reducing the repulsive forces between the negatively charged bacterial cells and surfaces

one common examples is cystic fibrosis, the most frequently passed genetic disoders in western europe.Cystic fibrosis patients suffer from chronic p.aerogenosa infections.When infecting the CF lungs, p.aeroginosa undergoes a charecteristic transition from a acute virulent pathogen to a CF adapted pathogen, allowing into a persist in the lungs for a years of decades .

This is due to the over production of the matrix polysacchride alginate , leading to the formation of a mucoid biofilm that tolerates anti-biotics, components of both the innate and adaptive immune respinse , and resist phagocytosis. The persistance of these mucoid biofilms with in the CFlungs leads to development of a distinct antibody response,.

These promotes chronic inflammation mediated by granulocytes , and results in severe damage to lung issues of a CF patients.

A second example for biofilims in human healthy is dental plaque, potentially leading to dental carries. The consumption of fermentable carbohydrates such as sugary treats or drinks causes and increase in the production and secretion of organic acids by the bacteria found in dental plaques,. if left untreated , the increased accidifcation of biofilms lead to demineralisation of enamesl and formation of dental carriers.