Let's stick together - biofilm formation and dispersal Communities of bacteria can band together for protection, creating a slimy coating that gums up pipes and fouls water tanks. Scientists are currently investigating the biological processes behind the creation and breakdown of these 'biofilms' as part of an EU-funded project. Health A biofilm is a complex community of microorganisms in which the cells adhere to one another to increase their ability to survive. Biofilms can be found everywhere, including on your teeth as dental plaque and the lining of your intestine. They even accumulate on ships and corrode their steel hulls. Microorganisms can secrete a sticky substance that acts as a supportive medium, holding the cells together and protecting them from the outside world. Bacteria encased in biofilm have been found to be less sensitive to antimicrobial agents. Biofilms can also act as reservoirs for bacteria and can cause disease. Compounds currently being investigated by the Biofilm project help to break down the supportive medium and disperse the bacteria they contain. Researchers are also analysing components produced by the bacteria Bacillus licheniformis, which can cause other bacteria to be separated from their biofilm. The project is investigating the mechanisms behind the coordinated, inducible breakdown of biofilms. Scientists are thus studying biofilm dispersing compounds (BDCs) produced by marine bacteria and the genes which control their production and regulatory pathways. BDCs have been identified as secreted hormones, which degrade the biofilm, resulting in the bacteria's rapid dispersal. This information gathered was used to determine the dispersal mechanism and prevent a new biofilms from forming. The consortium's work is helping microbiologists gain a clearer understanding of the formation and breakdown of biofilms and their role in spreading disease. The project's main outcome, however, has been the identification of secreted bacterial enzymes as biofilm dispersal agents. The results could have commercial applications and one project partner has already filed for a UK patent.
