Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Biofilms

Biofilms

Biofilms are complex communities of microorganisms encased in a self-produced extracellular polysaccharide matrix attached to surfaces. These microbial consortia can include single or multiple species, providing enhanced survival benefits by forming organized, multilayered structures.The formation of biofilms occurs through four key stages: attachment, colonization, development, and dispersal.During attachment, free-swimming planktonic cells adhere to a surface, often facilitated by...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

An optimized mung bean seedling model for characterizing virulence of <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> biofilm infections.

Biofilm·2026

Same author

Arsenic detoxification within thermo-alkaline biofilms.

Frontiers in microbiology·2026

Same author

Impact of the gut microbiome on health impacts of Haskap berries: study protocol for a randomized control trial.

Trials·2026

Same author

The Impact of Forever Chemicals on Protein Structure and Function.

International journal of molecular sciences·2026

Same author

Differential Metabolic Changes in Zebrafish Embryos Are Induced by Discontinued Citalopram Exposure.

Biomedicines·2026

Same author

Tissue-Specific and Spatially Dependent Metabolic Signatures Perturbed by Injury in Male and Female Mice.

Arthritis & rheumatology (Hoboken, N.J.)·2026

Same journal

Structures of the endophytic microbiota during heart rot development in <i>Abies georgei</i> var. <i>smithii</i>.

Microbiology spectrum·2026

Same journal

High <i>Yersinia</i> prevalence in tonsils of wild boars hunted in Northeast Germany using a novel protocol including long cold enrichment.

Microbiology spectrum·2026

Same journal

Genetic variation, recombinant characteristics, and seroprevalence analysis of echovirus 3 causing severe and mild cases of hand, foot, and mouth disease in Guizhou Province.

Microbiology spectrum·2026

Same journal

Mycelial morphology influenced aerobic DNRA in <i>Streptomyces mediolani</i> EM-B2: short rod-shaped mycelium showed markedly greater efficiency than long filamentous mycelium.

Microbiology spectrum·2026

Same journal

Performance and practicality of 16S nanopore sequencing for routine bacterial identification in clinical samples.

Microbiology spectrum·2026

Same journal

Molecular characterization and correlation with β-lactam resistance of penicillin-binding protein2x, 2b, and 1a of <i>Streptococcus pneumoniae</i> in clinical pneumococcal isolates.

Microbiology spectrum·2026

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 4, 2026

A New Method for Qualitative Multi-scale Analysis of Bacterial Biofilms on Filamentous Fungal Colonies Using Confocal and Electron Microscopy

A New Method for Qualitative Multi-scale Analysis of Bacterial Biofilms on Filamentous Fungal Colonies Using Confocal and Electron Microscopy

Published on: January 25, 2017

New Technologies for Studying Biofilms.

Michael J Franklin¹, Connie Chang¹, Tatsuya Akiyama¹

¹Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University-Bozeman, Bozeman, MT 59717.

Microbiology Spectrum

|September 10, 2015

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

This study explores bacterial biofilms, complex surface-associated microbial communities. Advances in molecular and imaging tools enhance our understanding of biofilm dynamics and cellular activities.

More Related Videos

Use of a High-throughput In Vitro Microfluidic System to Develop Oral Multi-species Biofilms

Use of a High-throughput In Vitro Microfluidic System to Develop Oral Multi-species Biofilms

Published on: December 1, 2014

Concurrent Quantification of Cellular and Extracellular Components of Biofilms

Concurrent Quantification of Cellular and Extracellular Components of Biofilms

Published on: December 10, 2013

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 4, 2026

A New Method for Qualitative Multi-scale Analysis of Bacterial Biofilms on Filamentous Fungal Colonies Using Confocal and Electron Microscopy

A New Method for Qualitative Multi-scale Analysis of Bacterial Biofilms on Filamentous Fungal Colonies Using Confocal and Electron Microscopy

Published on: January 25, 2017

Use of a High-throughput In Vitro Microfluidic System to Develop Oral Multi-species Biofilms

Use of a High-throughput In Vitro Microfluidic System to Develop Oral Multi-species Biofilms

Published on: December 1, 2014

Concurrent Quantification of Cellular and Extracellular Components of Biofilms

Concurrent Quantification of Cellular and Extracellular Components of Biofilms

Published on: December 10, 2013

Area of Science:

Microbiology
Biotechnology
Environmental Science

Background:

Traditionally, bacteria are studied as single-cell organisms in homogenous laboratory cultures.
Natural environments host bacteria in complex, surface-associated microbial communities known as biofilms.
Biofilms consist of microorganisms, extracellular matrix, and adsorbed environmental chemicals.

Purpose of the Study:

To highlight the complexity and dynamic nature of bacterial biofilms.
To discuss the rapid development in understanding biofilm systems.
To emphasize the role of advanced tools in biofilm research.

Main Methods:

Review of molecular, analytical, and imaging tools.
Focus on miniaturized tools for biofilm characterization.
Examination of biofilm analysis at enzyme, cellular, and systems levels.

Main Results:

Biofilm research has rapidly advanced due to new technologies.
Understanding of individual cell and whole system activities has improved.
Tools now allow detailed characterization of biofilms.

Conclusions:

Bacterial biofilms are complex and dynamic systems.
Technological advancements are crucial for studying microbial communities.
Further research using these tools will deepen our knowledge of biofilms.