Outline:

A. INTRO
I.
What is biofilm?
- Include characteristics
- Image and its parts
- Definition and description in general
II.
Why it is formed?
- Significance of this
- What triggers its formation
B. BIOFILM AS AN ENVIRONMENT
I.

Biofilm formation
-thorough discussion about this
- each step should be explained clearly (5steps)

II.

Natural Occurrence of Biofilms

- Where it is found
- cite different types of organism that can perform bifilm formation
Example: gram positive bac, gram negative, bla bla
Add: Unique characteristics, when and why they form this
III.
Advantages of Biofilm
A. To the mcgs itself
B. Environment
C. Industrial
D. Medical (if applicable kasi mostly disadvantage siya)
E. Etc
IV.
Disadvantages of Biofilm
(same sa adv)
B. NOVEL METHODS (sabi ni sir basta di raw nasabi sa lect okay na)

ADVANTAGES
Biofilms can render a number of advantages to the microorganism
itself and contribute positively to industrial and medical advances.

MICROORGANISM
Biofilm formation in bacteria naturally become advantageous as it
enables growth in low nutrient or oligotrophic conditions. Firstly, the
negatively charged extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) of the biofilm
matrix and its hydrophobicity render it an effective nutrient scavenger by
concentrating ions and dissolved organic carbon compounds from the
oligotrophic environment (Cunningham, Lennox, & Ross, 2008). Secondly,
mature biofilms render higher resistance to environmental stresses such as
shear flow and presence of antimicrobial agents at concentrations much
higher than planktonic bacteria. Aside from nutrient deprivation, bacteria
within the biofilm can also withstand pH fluctuations and presence of oxygen
radicals. Thirdly, biofilms allow the bacteria to remain within their favourable
environmental niches and may provide interactive communities for higher
gene transfer. The environmental niches in the form of microhabitats can be
observed in the biofilm structure. The O2 concentration in the bulk fluid and
at the surface of the biofilm is sufficient enough to house aerobic
microorganisms while the center of the biofilm is essentially anaerobic
housing

facultative

anaerobic

and

obligate

anaerobic

bacteria.

This

difference is mostly due to diffusion restrictions and metabolic consumptions

of aerobic and facultative bacteria present inside the biofilm (Lewis, et al.,
2010).
ENVIRONMENT
Biofilms play an important ecological role as they are usually used in
areas for habitat remediation. Microorganisms present in environmental
biofilms are key component for a functional environmental system as they
actively participate in organic matter decomposition, nutrient dynamics and
biogeochemical cycling.

Furthermore, biofilm occurrence is a good indicator

for overall water quality and ecological status of the system. Some Biofilms
are used for waste water treatments through the use of sand filters that act
as support for microbial attachment which leads to biofilm adaptation to the

organic matter in the particular water. This results to immobilization of

biomass in the filter (Balczar, Subirats, & Borrego, 2015).
As biofilms are usually composed of microscopic heterotrophic,
photosynthetic, and chemotrophic bacteria, fungi, diatoms and algae, they
play an important role in providing supply of energy and organic matter in
the food web. Usually in stream communities, biofilms serves as food source
to surrounding protozoa, macrobenthic invertibrates, and some fish.
INDUSTRIAL
Although biofilms cause industries to lose millions of dollars per year, a
new study released in 2013 by Kugako Sugimoto aimed to utilize biofilms as
a good source of biomaterial. Sugimoto explained that bacteria produce
nanofibers in order to partially produce biofilms and attach themselves to
surfaces. These adhesive nanofibers are extremely strong, doubling the
strength of commercial glues, specifically ones produced by Caulobacter
crescentus (Sugimoto, 2013).
DISADVANTAGES
INDUSTRIAL
In the food industry, presence of biofilm could lead to increase
opportunity for food contamination. As EPS is resistant to some antimicrobial
cleaning products, biofilms remain resistant and continue to grow. To avoid
such circumstances, factors such as equipment design, temperature control,
and nutrient reduction in water can be tweaked. Effective cleaning products
include alkali compounds together with chelators while sanitizers used
include halogens, acids, peroxygens, and quats (Kokare, Chakraborty,
Khopade, & Mahadik, 2008).
MEDICAL

Biofilms are responsible of a wide variety of indections including

bacterial vaginitis, urinary tract infections, catheter infections, middle-ear
infections, formation of dental plaque, and gingivitis. Since biofilms are
somewhat resistant to antibiotics, the longer they persist, the harder they
are to treat ( Imran & Smith, n.d.).