biofilm

Scientific  

/ bī′ō-fĭlm′ /

1. A complex structure adhering to surfaces that are regularly in contact with water, consisting of colonies of bacteria and usually other microorganisms such as yeasts, fungi, and protozoa that secrete a mucilaginous protective coating in which they are encased. Biofilms can form on solid or liquid surfaces as well as on soft tissue in living organisms, and are typically resistant to conventional methods of disinfection. Dental plaque, the slimy coating that fouls pipes and tanks, and algal mats on bodies of water are examples of biofilms. While biofilms are generally pathogenic in the body, causing such diseases as cystic fibrosis and otitis media, they can be used beneficially in treating sewage, industrial waste, and contaminated soil.

---

Example Sentences

This dye allowed them to assess acidity in different areas of the biofilm.

From Science Daily

Galactose-containing carbohydrates became less abundant near the base of the biofilm and more concentrated toward the top, suggesting a reorganization that may limit acid buildup near tooth surfaces.

From Science Daily

This shift helped raise pH levels inside the biofilm.

From Science Daily

Yao, along with various colleagues, have used the bacteria's protein nanowires to design a whole host of extraordinary efficient devices: a biofilm, powered by sweat, that can power personal electronics; an "electronic nose" that can sniff out disease; and a device, which can be built of nearly anything, that can harvest electricity from thin air itself.

From Science Daily

But in Paradise, several systems had to be repeatedly flushed because most water pipes are coated on the inside with biofilm, microorganisms that attach to surfaces “that absorb and hold on to all the toxic chemicals,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times