Artificial Biofilm Formation on the Laboratory Scale

What is it about?

Biofilms are collections of microorganisms that stick to each other on a variety of moist surfaces. These microbial communities are anchored to the surface by a glue-like extracellular polymeric substance (EPS). Biofilms grow, mature, and disperse cells in order to spread and colonize new surfaces. They can grow in different environments such as on floors, counter tops, food, human tissue, and ships . These films cause corrosion in metals and pose health risks to humans. Therefore, they are of interest to researchers who want to prevent and control them. Two different methods are presented for artificially producing biofilms at an accelerated rate in a laboratory settings. One involves and intermittent flow of water over various test materials while the other continuously exposes the items to moisture.

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Why is it important?

This is a very fundamental explanation for biofilm formation on the laboratory scale. Actually, researchers have proposed many kinds of laboratory biofilm reactors (LBR: the collective term for the system for artificial biofilm formation processes in laboratories.). They are very advanced and sometimes complicated for initial learners. But in this chapter, they will get a chance to have the general view for that and the meaning. Our own unique method is introduced here.

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