Hi all,
I've been mulling over this question about "what is a biofilm" ever since the
memorable debate during the Biofilms symposium at the Sheffield BDSR a few
years ago. There really is a place for the type of definition that Paul
mentioned, to make it immediately obvious what "type" of biofilm one is
talking
about, but this wouldn't really make it clear what is and what isn't a
biofilm.
For my part, I suggested that a convenient definition would be any system in
which the contents of the extracellular fluid are significantly different from
the fluid at the biofilm surface (Rose and Turner, BBA 1379, 185-190). This
could also go some way to defining the boundaries of the biofilm.
Cheers,
Keith
----------------------
Dr R.K. Rose
Restorative Dentistry
Bristol Dental Hospital
Lower Maudlin Street
Bristol BS1 2LY
UK
+117 9284334 (fax +117 9284778)
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