Biofilm

A biofilm is a syntrophic community of microorganisms in which cells stick to each other and often also to a surface. These adherent cells become embedded within a slimy extracellular matrix composed of extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) produced by them, which are typically a polymeric combination of extracellular polysaccharides, proteins, lipids and DNA. Because they have a three-dimensional structure and represent a community lifestyle for microorganisms, they have been metaphorically described as "cities for microbes".

The biofilm allows sharing of nutrients among its residents and serves as a physical barrier against harmful environmental interactions such as desiccation, toxins/antibiotics, bacterivory and attacks from a host body's immune system.

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Source: Wikipedia · Image: Wikimedia Commons · Public domain