
Concept explainers
Describe a detrimental and a beneficial effect of biofilms.

To review:
Description of a detrimental and a beneficial effect of biofilms
Introduction:
The microorganisms in nature can live permanently or temporarily in a hydrousenvironment but most attach themselves to surfaces and live in polymer encased communities called as biofilms. Biofilms causethe sticky substance that coats the drains of the kitchen, the sticky colorless deposit, which grows on surfaces within the mouth.
Explanation of Solution
The formation of biofilms begins when free-floating cellsmove to a surface and attach. Multiplication will then take place and will release hydrophilic polymers, DNA, and polysaccharides. The unrelated cells may attach and grow. The assembly of these polymersisreferred to as extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). EPS gives a biofilm its slimy appearance.
Biofilms have harmful effects. Biofilms can be formed anywhere especially on moist surfaces because it provides the good ground for the bacteria to grow. They tend to be resistant to antibiotics. Biofilms are seen growing around the surfaces of toilets, sinks, in hospitals, wound dressing. Complication of cystic fibrosis, in which the lungs and digestive systems get clogged with mucus, ear infection, heart diseases, and respiratory problems, isthe harmful effectof biofilms. These infections often require a high dose of antibiotics to get rid of the body and it requires a long time.
Biofilms have beneficial effects. They are important for wastewater treatment facilities. The various microbial activity in the water is controlled in the biological treatment of wastewater. This is the filtration process where the wastewater is treated. The conversion of organic carbon in the water into bacterial biomass is the biological filtration. This process makes the treated water more biologically stable and free of all disinfectant. Biofilms are used in the process of bioremediation of contaminated soil. Bioremediation is the process where the toxic organic material is converted into a harmless product. Various toxic contaminants(gasoline, fuel oil) are released accidentally underground in the soil. The bacterial population present in the native soil will use the organic contaminants as a food source. Thus they will make the soil free from all the toxic organic contaminants and will convert them into harmless by-products.
Thus, the harmful effect of biofilm is seen in various health-related problems, such as respiratory disease, ear infection, and a complication of cystic fibrosis. The beneficial effect is seen in the treatment of urban wastewater, bioremediation of contaminated soil.
Want to see more full solutions like this?
Chapter 4 Solutions
Nester's Microbiology: A Human Perspective
- 1. In the following illustration of a phospholipid... (Chemistry Primer and Video 2-2, 2-3 and 2-5) a. Label which chains contain saturated fatty acids and non-saturated fatty acids. b. Label all the areas where the following bonds could form with other molecules which are not shown. i. Hydrogen bonds ii. Ionic Bonds iii. Hydrophobic Interactions 12-6 HICIH HICIH HICHH HICHH HICIH OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH C-C-C-C-C-c-c-c-c-c-c-c-c-c-c-c-C-C-H HH H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H HO H-C-O H-C-O- O O-P-O-C-H H T HICIH HICIH HICIH HICIH HHHHHHH HICIH HICIH HICIH 0=C HIC -C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-CC-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-H HHHHHHHHH IIIIIIII HHHHHHHH (e-osbiv)arrow_forwardAnswer this as a dental assistant studentarrow_forwardbuatkan judul skripsi tentang parasitologi yang sedang trendinharrow_forward
- Dental assistantarrow_forwardO Macmillan Learning Glu-His-Trp-Ser-Gly-Leu-Arg-Pro-Gly The pKa values for the peptide's side chains, terminal amino groups, and carboxyl groups are provided in the table. Amino acid Amino pKa Carboxyl pKa Side-chain pKa glutamate 9.60 2.34 histidine 9.17 1.82 4.25 6.00 tryptophan 9.39 2.38 serine 9.15 2.21 glycine 9.60 2.34 leucine 9.60 2.36 arginine 9.04 2.17 12.48 proline 10.96 1.99 Calculate the net charge of the molecule at pH 3. net charge at pH 3: Calculate the net charge of the molecule at pH 8. net charge at pH 8: Calculate the net charge of the molecule at pH 11. net charge at pH 11: Estimate the isoelectric point (pl) for this peptide. pl:arrow_forwardBiology Questionarrow_forward
- This entire structure (Pinus pollen cone) using lifecycle terminology is called what?arrow_forwardThis entire structure using lifecycle terminology is called what? megastrobilus microstrobilus megasporophyll microsporophyll microsporangium megasporangium none of thesearrow_forwardHow much protein should Sarah add to her diet if she gets pregnant? Sarah's protein requirements during pregnancy would be higher. See Hint B2. During calculations, use numbers rounded to the first decimal place. In your answer, round the number of grams to the nearest whole number. _______ g ?arrow_forward
- C MasteringHealth MasteringNu X session.healthandnutrition-mastering.pearson.com/myct/itemView?assignment ProblemID=17396422&attemptNo=1&offset=prevarrow_forwardMost people, even those who exercise regularly at low to average intensity (1 hour at the gym or a 2- to 3-mile walk several times per week), do not need an increased protein intake. What would be the protein needs of a man named Josh who exercises moderately and is the same age and size as Wayne? Josh is 5 ft, 8 in tall and weighs 183 lb. Round the number of grams to the nearest whole number. During calculations, use numbers rounded to the first decimal place. Because protein requirement is a range, please enter two numbers: lower and upper range values, respectively. Separate the lower and upper range values, in that order, by a comma. ___, ___ g ?arrow_forwardC MasteringHealth MasteringNu X session.healthandnutrition-mastering.pearson.com/myct/itemView?assignment ProblemID=17396422&attemptNo=1&offset=prevarrow_forwardarrow_back_iosSEE MORE QUESTIONSarrow_forward_iosRecommended textbooks for you
- Comprehensive Medical Assisting: Administrative a...NursingISBN:9781305964792Author:Wilburta Q. Lindh, Carol D. Tamparo, Barbara M. Dahl, Julie Morris, Cindy CorreaPublisher:Cengage LearningEssentials Health Info Management Principles/Prac...Health & NutritionISBN:9780357191651Author:BowiePublisher:Cengage
- Biology: The Dynamic Science (MindTap Course List)BiologyISBN:9781305389892Author:Peter J. Russell, Paul E. Hertz, Beverly McMillanPublisher:Cengage LearningBasic Clinical Lab Competencies for Respiratory C...NursingISBN:9781285244662Author:WhitePublisher:Cengage
Comprehensive Medical Assisting: Administrative a...NursingISBN:9781305964792Author:Wilburta Q. Lindh, Carol D. Tamparo, Barbara M. Dahl, Julie Morris, Cindy CorreaPublisher:Cengage LearningEssentials Health Info Management Principles/Prac...Health & NutritionISBN:9780357191651Author:BowiePublisher:CengageBiology: The Dynamic Science (MindTap Course List)BiologyISBN:9781305389892Author:Peter J. Russell, Paul E. Hertz, Beverly McMillanPublisher:Cengage LearningBasic Clinical Lab Competencies for Respiratory C...NursingISBN:9781285244662Author:WhitePublisher:Cengage