Biofilms: an emergent form of bacterial life

Abstract

Bacterial biofilms are formed by communities that are embedded in a self-produced matrix of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). Importantly, bacteria in biofilms exhibit a set of 'emergent properties' that differ substantially from free-living bacterial cells. In this Review, we consider the fundamental role of the biofilm matrix in establishing the emergent properties of biofilms, describing how the characteristic features of biofilms - such as social cooperation, resource capture and enhanced survival of exposure to antimicrobials - all rely on the structural and functional properties of the matrix. Finally, we highlight the value of an ecological perspective in the study of the emergent properties of biofilms, which enables an appreciation of the ecological success of biofilms as habitat formers and, more generally, as a bacterial lifestyle.

Microbiological problems and biofilms associated with Mycobacterium chimaera in heater–cooler units used for cardiopulmonary bypass

“…As such the tolerance of biofilms is thought to be associated with the quenching of disinfectants as they pass through the EPS and due to the presence of slow growing or persistor cells that have reduced susceptibility to many disinfectants and other antimicrobials [59][60][61] . Resistance to disinfectants may also be due to a genetic characteristics acquired either by mutation or by gene exchange 62 .…”

Haemophilus spills its guts to make a biofilm

“…Most bacteria do not live as single cells but form communities on surfaces called biofilms (1). Similar to human communities, some are fairly homogeneous, whereas others contain a diversity of microbes.…”

“…Biofilms are important for the growth and survival of all sorts of bacteria: bacteria that live in water or soil and also bacteria that live in or on animal hosts, including commensal bacteria, beneficial bacteria, and diseasecausing bacteria (1). Biofilm communities are held together by a matrix containing a collection of molecules that are released by the bacterial cells within the biofilm (2).…”

Modeling Biofilms in Water Systems with New Variables: A Review

“…Specifically, the biofilm matrix results in gradients of chemicals across the biofilm as well as physical and chemical benefits to biofilm-hosting microbes [2]. For instance, microbes in biofilms have much higher tolerance, sometimes hundreds of times higher, toward antibiotics than the planktonic ones, thus jeopardizing the utilization of antimicrobial agents [12,13].…”

“…Microorganisms tend to grow multicellularly rather than singularly to improve the survivability in varying environments with stimuli [1,2]. Biofilm is the dominant multicellular structure in nature, and it exists in almost all ecological niches and engineered systems, like in wastewater treatment processes [3,4] and on medical equipment [5,6].…”