What is Biofilm
The microbes that cause many stubborn infections organize themselves into tenacious colonies-biofilms. These colonies of bacteria are nearly impossible to destroy with conventional antibiotics. In the past, it was envisioned that bacteria floated or rather swam as a single cell through a watery habitat. This idea was procreated via the method in which bacteria were examined and studied; suspended in a droplet of water. In recent years, bacteriologists have gained additional information into how common bacteria actually live. Research now shows, contrary to common belief, that bacteria do not spend the majority of their time free floating as a single cell, but rather adhering themselves to moist surfaces and congregating into organized colonies with diverse members. Just in the past few years, it has been discovered that these colonies depend solely on communicating with one another.
In retrospect, it is amazing that investigators could have overlooked this microbial way of life for so long! After all, these bacterial colonies confront us on a daily basis; whether it is a slippery rock in a stream bed, the slime that inevitably coats a flower vase, or the sticky foul smelling plaque that covers our teeth. Scientific understanding and appreciation for these colonies is a rather contemporary phenomenon.
Bacteria grow in tiny enclaves, which we have named micro colonies. In each micro colony the bacteria composes just 1/3 of the space available. The other 2/3 of the space is filled by a sticky substance created and secreted by the bacteria. This substance (extra cellular matrix) serves to trap particles, absorb water, and hold micro colonies together. Biofilm is composed of thousands of micro colonies all attached. Each micro colony is separated by a network of fluid channels. These channels provide each colony with nutrients and a waster removal system. Each micro colony is composed of many different species and varieties of bacteria, each having its own needs and optimal environment specifications. This wide parameter of environmental conditions allows several different bacterial species to live side by side. These bacteria become fine tuned to each other's needs and co-exist much to their own benefit. Sometimes a bacteria species feeds on the waste product of another species- allowing them to metabolically coordinated.
In some cases biofilm serve as a health contribution. In animals of ruminant classification these bacteria assist in the digestion process, proving them to be indispensable. However, for the rest of us biofilm is a persistent and serious health threat. Biofilm can survive most chemical treatments, which would otherwise destroy free floating molecules. It can also bypass and escape the immune system destroyer cells; making it a very unrelenting and tenacious force to deal with. Biofilm is protected by a slime like layer, which thwarts antibiotics and other such mechanisms via beta lactamase enzymes. These enzymes protect the bacteria by dissolving the medication faster than it can degrade the layers of slime layer. Only, antimicrobials penetrate the biofilm slime layer, however the bacteria may still survive these aggressive treatments.
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