What Biofilms Require in Order Form and Thrive

As we've discussed previously in this section, biofilms grow just about anywhere. All it takes is:

• microorganisms
• moisture
• nutrients
• surfaces

Microorganisms

Many different kinds of microorganisms can—and do—congregate to form a biofilm colony. For example, over 500 different microorganisms have been found in typical dental plaque. Such microorganisms are all around us, on us, and in us.

Moisture

What kind of moisture is needed? Biofilms grow in fresh water, salt water, oil pipelines, in the human body, and, well, you name it. Just about any kind of naturally occurring moisture will do.

Nutrients

What biofilms feed on is just as varied. Certain biofilms even thrive on petroleum oil. Interestingly, the capacity of this kind of biofilm to gobble oil has both a bad and a good side. Oil-eating biofilms can grow in and clog an oil pipeline; they can also be used to clean up an oil spill.

Surfaces

As discussed in section 1, to form a biofilm, microorganisms must "glue" themselves to a surface, form colonies, and reproduce. Virtually any surface will serve the purpose: rocks, countertops, human tissue, and so forth.

In the following pages, we identify some specific environments that support biofilm growth that are of interest to biofilm engineers and scientists.