Revised paradigm of aquatic biofilm formation facilitated by microgel transparent exopolymer particles.

ABSTRACT: Transparent exopolymer particles (TEPs) are planktonic, organic microgels that are ubiquitous in aqueous environments. Increasing evidence indicates that TEPs play an active role in the process of aquatic biofilm formation. Frequently, TEPs are intensely colonized by bacteria and other microorganisms, thus serving as hot spots of intense microbial activity. We introduce the term "protobiofilm" to refer to TEPs with extensive microbial outgrowth and colonization. Such particles display most of the characteristics of developing biofilm, with the exception of being attached to a surface. In this study, coastal seawater was passed through custom-designed flow cells that enabled direct observation of TEPs and protobiofilm in the feedwater stream by bright-field and epifluorescence microscopy. A

SUBMITTER: Bar-Zeev E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3384133 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature