biofilmssystem

A biofilm system, sometimes referred to as a biofilmsystem in German literature, refers to any physical or engineered environment in which microbial biofilms develop and persist. A biofilm is a structured consortium of microorganisms attached to a surface and embedded in a self-produced extracellular polymeric substance (EPS). Biofilms are characterized by heterogeneous, three-dimensional architecture, gradients of nutrients and oxygen, and intercellular communication.

Formation and structure: initial attachment of free-swimming cells, irreversible adhesion, microcolonies, maturation into mushroom-like or layered structures with water channels. EPS components include polysaccharides, proteins, lipids, extracellular DNA. Quorum sensing coordinates gene expression and coordinated behavior.

Systems and applications: natural biofilms form on rocks, sediments, pipes, teeth. Engineered biofilm systems are used in water and wastewater treatment, such as biofilm reactors, trickling filters, and membrane bioreactors, enabling pollutant degradation. Biofilms also arise on medical devices and in food processing, sometimes causing persistent infections or fouling.

Measurement and control: monitoring uses microscopy (confocal laser scanning), flow cells, molecular methods, ATP assays; control strategies include mechanical cleaning, chemical sanitizers, enzymatic disruption of EPS, and optimization of shear forces.

Challenges and significance: biofilms confer resistance to antimicrobial agents and cleaning, complicating medical, industrial, and environmental contexts; understanding their development aids in bioremediation and public health risk assessment.