On biofilms and other films
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22201/codeic.16076079e.2019.v20n5.a1Keywords:
biofilms, microbiome, microbial diversity, systems biology, health-disease, biotechnologyAbstract
Our knowledge of the microbial world is growing every day, surprising us and challenging the paradigms of Biology and Chemistry. Microbes do not live naturally isolated, but in association with other microbes, often forming films thin as a needle tip. These biofilms are everywhere, but they are microscopic and, therefore, practically invisible. Their structure, variety and functions are as diverse as they are unknown, since we have only begun to understand them. Here, we present an overview of the recent discoveries and promising new ones on biofilm research. Biofilms play key roles in the mechanisms that control health and disease in humans and in ecosystems’ equilibrium. It is only lately that we are beginning to have the instruments and techniques required to identify the type of microbes involved in each biofilm and to understand the chemistry of the slimy films that cover food and other materials. The role of microbes in these biofilms is a growing research area that will impact the future of technological development in areas such as bioremediation, energy production and colonization of extreme environments (such as terraformation).
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