Question

What is the bacterial biofilm? What are the conditions that favor its formation and its disassembly? And what is its medical importance?

Answer 1

  microorganisms aggregates together, and their cells are frequently embedded within a self-produced matrix of extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) adhere to each other and/or to a surface. Bacterial cells stock together with each other and secrete protein or glycoprotein like substance which is very sticky even in the liquid medium the substance is insoluble. Bacterial cells embedded within the matrix and forms a colony which helps them to adpt environmental challenging situation. The secretion of this sticky substance begin with a quoram sensing of bacteria. Not only its just a slimy layer but bacteria also arrange themselves in a well organised manner and develop a community.

A free flowing of nutrients favors its formation.

Various sterilizing agents like alchohol , detergents ,metal ions etc favors its disassembly.

Bacterial biofilm medically very important because when biofilm forms it became so stronger that it can nullify the stronger antibiotics and if it forms inside the body it also can outnumbered the immune cells and modulate the immune function. Biofilm often lead to a severe infection or a chronic one inside the body.