MICROBIAL BIOFILMS:DEVELOPMENT AND APPLICATIONS

Noopur Sharma 09MBT015

INTRODUCTION
Biofilms An immobilized population of micro-organisms caught in a sticky web of tangled polysaccharide fibres adhering to a surface.

Familiar examples: Plaque on your teeth Slippery slime on river stones

PROPERTIES
1.

Most probable location: A combination of moisture, nutrients and a surface. Rich mixture of many species of bacteria, fungi, algae, yeast, protozoa etc. Held together by sugary molecular strands called EXTRACELLULAR POLYMERIC SUBSTANCES (EPS). Cells can communicate via biochemical signalling molecules.

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BIOFILM STRUCTURE:
Spatial arrangement of bacteria, cell clusters, EPS, particulates. Parameters: Heterogeneity EPS Morphogenetic factors

HETEROGENEITY

Multi species containing voids,cavities,pores and filaments and cells arranged in clusters or layers. Thickness can range from a few micrometer (monolayer) upto a centimeter . Voids help in exchange of substrates and products with water phase.

PLANAR LAYERED MODEL

GAS SPACES

SURFACE FILM
BULK LIQUID

BIOFILM

BASE FILM
SUBSTRATUM

EXTRA CELLULAR POLYMERIC SUBSTANCES(EPS): Main structural component (50-80% of organic matter) It is produced by cells and consist of polysaccharides, polyuronic acid, proteins, lipids and nucleic acids Proteins (50% or more) Polysaccharides (5-20%) Prevent floatation

MORPHOGENTIC FACTORS

Hydrodynamics Viscoelasticity Growth and detachment Cell-cell signalling

HYDRODYNAMICS

Natural and industrial processes show two types of flow - laminar and turbulent. Control two parameters-shear stress and mixing. High shear stress cause detachment by EROSION or SLOUGHING. High mixing cause increase in GROWTH RATE.

VISCOELASTICITY

If shear stress exceeds a threshold limit,biofilm shows a liquid-like behaviour. Thickness of cell clusters reduces. Elastic deformities and viscous behaviour lead to heat generation

GROWTH AND DETACHMENT

Parameters controlling are: shear stress nutrient concentration cell surface properties

CELL-CELL SIGNALLING

N-3-oxododecanoyl-Lhomoserine lactone Polyuronic acid(EPS)

N- butyryl-Lhomoserine lactone Alginate lyase

Biofilm formation

Biofilm dissolution

BIOFILM FORMATION

ZONES OF A MICROBIAL MAT

(I) OXIC PHOTOSYNTHETIC ZONE (II) ANOXIC ZONE.

(A) FILAMENTOUS CYANOBACTERIA, OSCILLATORIA SP. (B) GRASS SILAGE (C) ENTRAPPED GAS (D) HETEROTROPHIC BACTERIAL

COLONIES, S REDUCING BACT.

SUCCESSION
Physical conditioning of surface. Populations invade.These form monolayer. Consequently form a thicker layer.New bacteria invade to establish a community. Eucaryotic micro-organisms (algae and protozoa) then invade biofilms,continuing successional process to form a complex biofilm community i.e. highly resistant to outside disturbance.

PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH BIOFILMS:

PROBLEMS Fouling of heat exchangers Fouling of ships Oil reservoirs Industrial and drinking water pipe lines Dental plaque CONSEQUENCES Loss of heat exchange efficiency, reduction of flow capacity Energy loss Hydrogen sulphide souring by sulphate reducing bacteria Energy loss, general corrosion, product contamination, pathogen reservoirs Dental caries

Medical infection

Colonization of indewelling devices (catheters, artificial joints, contact lenses)

APPLICATIONS:

Wastewater treatment Bioremediation Oil degradation

WASTE WATER TREATMENT:

The nitrogenous compounds retained in algal biomass can be harvested and used as fertilizers in agriculture Cyanobacteria can accumulate inorganic phosphorus and store it internally as polyphosphates. The photosynthetic activity results in an increasing pH, causes precipitation of dissolved phosphates.

REMOVAL OF HEAVY METALS:

Extracellular polysaccharides that are negatively charged at elevated pH levels may account for the metal-binding properties of biofilms. The elevated pH inside biofilms may favor removal of metals by precipitation Low cost, and high efficiency of heavy metal removal from diluted solutions

OIL DEGRADATION:

Addition of nitrogen supplements enhances microbial assimilation of carbon from oil . Cyanobacterial N2 fixation could provide sufficient nitrogen compounds for heterotrophic oil degradation. Biofilms are applicable as sensitive bioindicators of petrochemical pollution.

CONCLUSION AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES

The most important features of biofilm systems are versatility and adaptability. Phototrophic biofilms are suitable for the development of inexpensive treatment methods for developing countries, where land values are relatively low and the bulk of domestic and industrial wastewater is still discharged without any treatment.

REFERENCE

The Prokaryotes-A handbook on biology of bacteria(Biotechnology and Applied Microbiology)-Volume -I,Edition -III Dirk De Beer and Paul Stoodley Environmental MicrobiologyMaier,Pepper,Gerba Microbial Ecology-Atlas and Bartha Textbook of Biotechnology-H.K.Das Microbiology-Brock Environmental Biotechnology-Evans and Furlong www.pubmed.org

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