Microbial Biofilms

Properties and Applications in the Environment, Agriculture, and Medicine

Bakrudeen Abdul, Bakrudeen Ali Ahmed Abdul, Bakrudeen Abdul, Bakrudeen Ali Ahmed Abdul

• Publisher: CRC Press
• Year: 2020
• Print ISBN: 9780367612412
• eBook ISBN: 9781000215632
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Medicine
• Subtopic: Medical Theory, Practice & Reference

This book provides a broad range of applications and recent advances in the search for biofilm materials in nature. It also explains the future implications for biofilms in the areas of advanced molecular genetics, pharmaceuticals, pharmacology, and toxicology. This book is comprised of 20 chapters from leading experts in the field and it examines immunology and microbiological studies derived from biofilms as well as explores environmental, agricultural, and chemical impacts on biofilms. It is divided into five subdivisions: biofilms and its complications, biofilm infections in human body, detection of biofilm-forming pathogens, antibiofilm chemotherapy, and biofilms production tools in aquaculture. This book may be used as a text or reference for everyone interested in microbial biofilms and their current applications. It is also highly recommended for environmental microbiologists, medical microbiologists, bioremediation experts, and microbiologists working in biocorrosion, biofouling, biodegradation, water microbiology, quorum sensing, and many other related areas. Scientists in academia, research laboratories, and industry will also find it of interest. This book includes chapter homework problems and case studies. Powerpoints are also available for adopting instructors.

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• Discusses and clarifies the resource of isolation and chemical properties from biofilms

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• Discusses the latest pharmaceutical, pharmacological, and medicinal approaches toward the treatment of chronic and uncured diseases, such as Alzheimer's osteoporotic, sexual dysfunction, sleep sickness, allergy treatment, asthma, hair loss, AIDS, hypertension, antiaging, etc.

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• Examines immunology and microbiological studies derived from biofilms

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• Explores environmental, agricultural, and chemical impacts on biofilms.

Dr. Bakrudeen Ali Ahmed Abdul is an Associate Professor, the Head of the Department of Biochemistry and Dean of the School of Life Sciences, Centre for Research and Development (CRD), PRIST Deemed University, Vallam, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India. His research areas include the application of plant biochemistry, bioactive compound production, biotechnological methods, development of pharmaceutical products and pharmacological studies.

Part I

Microbial Biofilms: Properties, Biodiversity, Conservation, and Management

1 Microbial Biofilms

Properties, Biodiversity, Conservation and Management

Muhsin Jamal, Sayed Muhammad Ata Ullah Shah Bukhari, Sana Raza, Liloma Shah, Redaina, and Noor-ul-ain Ali

Abdul Wali Khan University

Saadia Andleeb

National University of Sciences and Technology

Contents

1.1 Introduction

1.2 Steps of Microbial Biofilm Formation

1.3 Properties of Microbial Biofilms

1.3.1 Quorum Sensing

1.3.2 General Stress Response

1.4 Biodiversity of Microbial Biofilms

1.5 Conservation of Microbial Biofilms

1.6 Management of Microbial Biofilms

1.6.1 Plants Extracts in the Management of Microbial Biofilms

1.6.1.1 Honey

1.6.1.2 Essential Oil

1.6.1.3 Vegetable Oil

1.6.2 Quorum Quenching

1.6.3 Bacteriophages

1.6.4 Enzymes

1.6.5 Nanotechnology

1.6.5.1 Nanoparticles in Antibiofilm Therapy

1.6.6 Bacteriocins

1.7 Conclusions

References

1.1 Introduction

Biofilm is defined as a microbial community adhered to abiotic or biotic surfaces surrounded by self-produced EPS. The genetic diversity of biofilm forming organisms verifies that biofilm is an olden form of life of a microorganism (Chandra et al. 2001). For the first time biofilm was noticed by Van Leeuwenhoek on tooth surface (Heukelekian and Heller 1940). Biofilms are thought to be an aggregation of microorganisms adhered to a surface enclosed within a self produced EPS (Hall-Stoodley and Stoodley 2009). Bacterial cells are protected from adverse ecological conditions by biofilm and thus show extreme resistance to antibiotics (Brown et al. 1988). Biofilms are extremely harmful in industrial, natural, and medical settings. For example, development of biofilm at the surface of medical devices like implants or catheters frequently causes infections which are then hard to treat (Hatt and Rather 2008). However, infections have been related to the development of biofilm on surfaces of human on urinary tract, skin, and teeth (Hatt and Rather 2008). However, biofilm formation on human surfaces is not at all times harmful. For instance, biofilms of dental plaque contain lots of species, and the disease-causing abilities are determined commonly by the composition of the community (Kreth et al. 2008). Biofilms are formed universally. For instance, biofilms made on ships hulls and within pipes can cause serious complications (De Carvalho 2007). In natural surroundings, the formation of biofilm frequently permits symbioses (mutualistic). For example, Actinobacteria frequently rise on ants, permitting ants to sustain microbe-free fungal gardens (Danhorn and Fuqua 2007). There are several profits that a community of bacteria may obtain from biofilm formation. Biofilms protect microbial cells by different ways such as providing antimicrobial resistance, defense from grazing of protozoan, and also evading host defense system (Anderson and O’Toole 2008). The basic structural unit of biofilms is microcolony, which is a discrete group of cells of bacteria surrounded by the matrix of EPS. Microcolonies comprise 10%–25% of cells and 79%–90% of the matrix of EPS (Costerton 1999). The extrapolymeric substance comprises mostly water that helps to transport the nutrients inside biofilm, and furthermore, enzymes, DNA, protein, and RNA are also present (Table 1.1). The biofilm structure comprises two important constituents, i.e., compactly closed cells and water (Jamal et al. 2015). The development of biofilm is regulated via different environmental and genetic factors. Genetic researches have revealed that cell membrane proteins, extracellular polysaccharides, bacterial mobility, and signaling molecules show significant parts in biofilm development (Pratt and Kolter 1998). Extrapolymeric substance has a major part in the development of biofilms. Genetic investigations on P. aeruginosa displayed that gene stimulation is essential for EPS synthesis (Davies and Geesey 1995). Nutrient availability, pH, temperature, and oxygen presence play a major part in biofilm development (Kim and Frank 1995). Biofilms have a significant diversity of microbes. Algae, fungi, archaea, protozoa, and bacteria make significant parts of the matrix of biofilm and contribute to biodiversity and aquatic ecosystem processes (Jackson and Jackson 2008).

TABLE 1.1
Composition of Biofilm

S. No	Different Components	Percentage of Matrix
1	Protein	<1%–2% (including enzymes)
2	Polysaccharide	1%–2%
3	DNA/RNA	<1%–2%
4	Water	Up to 97%
5	Microbial cell	2%–5%

Source: Adapted from Jamal et al. (2015).

Biofilms have adverse effects on human activity, and numerous strategies are used for the prevention and removal of biofilm. Traditionally, chemical and physical approaches like chlorination, ultraviolet disinfection, and flushing are used for controlling and removing biofilms. However, due to the lack of both effectiveness and safety of these stratifies, the concerns still persist (Srinivasan et al. 2008). In the late twentieth century, researchers tried to prove through experimentation that several naturally occurring compounds have antimicrobial characteristics (Cowan 1999). However, antibiofilm activities have been accredited to numerous natural substances like diverse essential oil (EO), plant extracts, and honey, and such properties are investigated expansively. Phages are supposed to be the largest group of microbes in the environment having antibacterial activity irrespective of their resistance (Pires et al. 2011). Quorum sensing (QS) plays a crucial role in the formation of biofilm, and QS inhibition is a hopeful approach for preventing biofilms (Ueda and Wood 2009). Nanotechnology is also a promising tool for control and prevention of biofilm, e.g., silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) (Kalishwaralal et al. 2010). Bacteriocins are antimicrobial peptides produced by prokaryotes which are commonly used against closely related bacterial species having a role in controlling bacterial biofilms (Hetrick et al. 2009). In this chapter, we have discussed biofilms in detail, such as biofilm formation, properties, biodiversity, and several current managements for the control of biofilms.

1.2 Steps of Microbial Biofilm Formation

The development of biofilm is a complex mechanism that ...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• Preface
• Editor
• Contributors
• Part I Microbial Biofilms: Properties, Biodiversity, Conservation, and Management
• Part II Microbial Biofilms: Bioenergy and Biomaterials Used in Environment Systems
• Part III Microbial Biofilms: Chemical Sciences, Natural Products, and Biotechnological Approaches
• Part IV Microbial Biofilms: Biomass, Plant Growth, Soil Nutrient, and Wastewater Management
• Part V Application of Microbial Biofilms in Medicine against Chronic Diseases
• Index