Breaking Up is Hard to Do

Have you ever slipped on a rock while crossing a creek, or had a difficult time washing the slime out of your dog’s water bowl? That annoyingly sticky film is a biofilm.

A common example of a biofilm you can likely relate to is dental plaque. If your teeth feel a little fuzzy, you likely have a slimy buildup of bacteria that have formed a biofilm on the surfaces of your teeth. The biofilm won’t go away unless it’s mechanically removed. Left alone, it can lead to the demineralization of the enamel and cavities.

Biofilms are bad for your health!

Biofilms can also be found on the skin, mucous membranes throughout the body, and on implanted medical devices. When they form on a surface in the body it is difficult for your own immune defenses or antibiotic therapies to remove them. This can result in an ongoing cycle of health issues. Recurrent tonsillitis, sinusitis, ear infections, and GI issues are some examples.

In the last few decades, biofilms have been receiving more attention for the major role they play in ongoing conditions. In fact, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) revealed that 80% of chronic infections are associated with biofilm formation.¹

Why are biofilms such a problem? Simply put, they are difficult to eradicate.

To better understand, let’s explore more about what biofilms are.

 Biofilms: When Microorganisms Stick Together

We could actually learn a lot from biofilms. 

They are living communities of organisms that stick together and attach to surfaces. Biofilms develop as a defense mechanism to prevent the clearance of undesirable microorganisms. They don’t discriminate. Bacterial, fungal, and viral species of microorganisms are all welcome to join this polymicrobial colony. And if speed is a virtue, they’ve got that covered. Biofilms can form in less than an hour.²

How do they form?

Biofilms are drastically different from free-floating microorganisms. Approximately 10% of bacteria are free-floating while the remaining 90% form colonies, excreting a sticky matrix called extracellular polymeric substance (EPS).³ The EPS creates a barrier protecting the internal microorganisms from the immune system and antimicrobials. Think of it as an invisibility cloak.

Microbial imbalances (For more on this topic, read Your Gut Microbiome: What It Is and Why You Should Care)

Lifecycle of a Biofilm

The lifecycle of a biofilm can be divided into five stages:

1. Initial Attachment – The formation begins with a reversible attachment of the free-floating microorganisms onto a surface.
2. Irreversible Attachment  – The bacteria then form a single layer and irreversibly attach to tissues.
3. Maturation I – Formation of microcolonies through cell-to-cell communication. Colonies grow, multilayers appear, divide, and develop a  biofilm.
4. Maturation II –  During later stages, the biofilm forms a three-dimensional “mushroom”-like structure.
5. Dispersion – Finally, some cells start to detach and the biofilm will disperse, potentially reseeding infection and starting a new cycle of biofilm formation. This is the stage where individuals may experience a resurgence of problematic symptoms.

Understanding biofilms – what they are, how they form, and how they impact health – is especially important for people who experience conditions that just won’t go away. Is that you? Perhaps it’s time to talk to your healthcare professional about whether biofilms might play a role and how you might go about busting them!

References:

1. Joo, H. S., & Otto, M. (2012). Molecular basis of in vivo biofilm formation by bacterial pathogens. Chemistry & biology, 19(12), 1503–1513. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chembiol.2012.10.022
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6312881
3. Hall-Stoodley L, Stoodley P. Biofilm formation and dispersal and the transmission of human pathogens. Trends Microbiol. 2005 Jan;13(1):7-10. doi: 10.1016/j.tim.2004.11.004. 
4. Petrova, O. E., & Sauer, K. (2012). Sticky situations: key components that control bacterial surface attachment. Journal of bacteriology, 194(10), 2413–2425. https://doi.org/10.1128/JB.00003-12