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Biofilm
on Substrate
This is an
SEM micrograph of a biofilm that formed
on a silicon substrate. The right portion shows the silicon
device, and the left region shows the biofilm. The biofilm has been
peeled up to reveal the underlying silicon. Close examination of the
silicon surface reveals several cocci type bacteria, and a white blood
cell. It is unclear what mechanism triggered the formation of the
biofilm. It is possible that the presence of the bacteria led to white
blood cells finding the bacteria, and the white blood cells triggering
the body to encapsulate the device in a biofilm. An alternate
explanation is that the white blood cells found the silicon surface, and
that alone triggered the biofilm. A third possible explanation would be
that the biofilm is actually formed by a more well developed bacteria
colony. |