The Advantages for Bacteria Growing in a Biofilm

A biofilm is a collective of bacteria that grows on a surface, and is surrounded by a film of its own secretions. While a biofilm structure offers bacteria certain advantages, the biofilm can also create problems for humans, and can cause diseases. According to the National Institutes of Health, these biofilms for responsible for more than 65 percent of microbial infections.

Biofilm Problems

• In industrial surroundings, biofilm has been known to clog pipes and corrode them. It can also contaminate food products. Biofilm has also been associated with conditions such as atherosclerosis, chronic sinus, ear infections, infections of the urinary tract and gum disease.

Increased Resistance

• By forming a biofilm, bacteria acquire a higher level of resistance to the human body’s antimicrobials, as well as any antibiotics you may receive. In fact, bacteria in a biofilm could develop multiple times the resistance of a single bacterium of the same species. The biofilm also enables bacteria to survive other sorts of stresses, such as heat and cold conditions.

Less Conducive Environments

• When the environment becomes less hospitable to bacteria, the biofilm community can enter into a state of dormancy. For instance, when food is not readily available, the biofilm communities have been known to do this. From time to time, the biofilm sends out feelers, in the form of a few revived cells, to see if there is any change in the environment. If the active cells find that nutrition is more readily available, they will communicate this so that the entire biofilm can become active again.

Nutritional Benefits

• Bacteria in a biofilm are able to exchange nutrients because of their proximity. As well, the structure of a biofilm makes for better water availability, which means that the bacteria face less chances of dehydration. Considering that cells in a mature biofilm don’t usually divide, it helps conserve energy. The bacteria use this additional energy to satisfy their nutritional needs, such as the production of exopolysaccharides that serve as a nutrient for the biofilm cells.