BIOFILM MATRIX – CHEMICAL COMPOSITION, STRUCTURE, FUNCTIONS

Abstract

Biofilms are the communities of microbial cells that underpin diverse processesincluding sewage bioremediation, plant growth promotion, chronic infections and industrial biofouling. The cells resident in the biofilm are encased within a self-produced hydrated exopolymeric matrix. The matrix commonly comprises polysaccharides, proteins, nucleic acids and lipids; they provide the mechanical stability of biofilms, mediate their adhesion to surfaces and form a cohesive, three-dimensional polymer network that interconnects and transiently immobilizes biofilm cells. This matrix fulfils a variety of functions for the community, from providing structural rigidity and protection from the external environment to controlling gene regulation and nutrient adsorption. Profound knowledge of the biofilm matrix properties is extremely important for the development of novel strategies to control biofilm infections, for the industrial and biotechnological biofilm using. It concerns the structure of the individual components, the nature of the interactions between the molecules and the three-dimensional spatial organization. This work is the overview of the modern looks about the chemical composition, structure and functions of the biofilm matrix as microenvironment for the biofilm cells life.

Keywords

• біоплівка
• матрикс
• поліцукриди
• білки
• еднк
• ліпіди
• біосурфактанти