In this video, we're going to begin our introduction to biofilms. Biofilms can be defined as a group of cells that are encased in a slime-like polysaccharide layer adhered to a surface. These biofilms are really just communities or groups of microbes that live together, encased in this slime-like polysaccharide. These biofilms can be found on virtually any surface, and they can cause serious illness in many cases, being encased by a polysaccharide matrix of extracellular polymeric substances, or EPS for short.
These extracellular polymeric substances or EPS are essentially a sticky matrix of polymers. These polymers can vary a lot but will be secreted by cells supporting the biofilm structure. The polymer types can vary, and they include polysaccharides, proteins, glycoproteins, glycolipids, and lipids. All these complex diverse molecules are secreted to create this extracellular polymeric substance which encases the biofilm.
The biofilm is a community of microbes surrounded by this extracellular polymeric substance. If we take a look at this image down below, you'll notice it is an image of a biofilm. The biofilm refers to the community of microbes living together within this gel-like substance, the extracellular polymeric substance. The extracellular polymeric substance appears as the gray border and gray background that encases the biofilm, this community of microbes living together.
Zooming in to the extracellular polymeric substance or the EPS, it consists of various types of polymers including polysaccharides, proteins, glycoproteins, glycolipids, and lipids. Bacteria and archaea can all survive within these biofilms. They are of great importance because they can cause serious illnesses. Biofilms help protect the community of microbes, and therefore, can help these microbes cause illnesses.
It's of great importance to humans to study biofilms so they can learn how to counteract them and prevent illnesses. This concludes our brief introduction to biofilms, these groups of cells or communities of microbes that live together within this slime-like EPS, extracellular polymeric substance. We'll be able to get some practice applying these concepts as we move forward. I'll see you all in our next video.
