Summary

Important Points

Important points from this section include these:

• microbes and biofilms (which he called "scurf") were first reported by Antonie van Leewenhoek in 1684.
• microbiology as a scientific study did not begin in earnest until the late 19th century.
• Robert Koch is accalimed as the father of microbiology; his work in the late 1800s resulted in the identification and cure of many bacterial diseases.
• For many years after Koch's work, the study of microbiology focused on the "pure culture" paradigm in which microbes, such as bacteria, were isolated, cultured, and studied as free-floating cells (in planktonic form).
• In mid to late 20th century, some microbiologists began to recognize that microbes most often were found in natural environments inhabiting hegerogeneous colonies whose residents included numuerous other microbial critters, attached to surfaces by a common slimy substance—not as free-floating individuals of the pure culture paradigm.
• By the late 20th century, biofilms had received enough attention that they began to be studied in earnest.
• Since that time research has established that microbes that are part of a biofilm exhibit properties that are different than their free-floating, planktonic counterparts and are generally much more resistant to treatment in a biofilm than they are in free-floating, planktonic form.
• New methods for studying and treating biofilms are now having a worldwide impact on many fields, from the environment, to industry, and to health, dentistry, and medicine.
• Even today, the study of biofilms has not been entirely integrated into relevant college curricula, but the topic is gaining wider coverage annually.

Other Notes

The study of biofilms has grown markedly in recent years due to increased awareness of the pervasiveness and impact of biofilms on natural and industrial systems, as well as human health. Biofilms cost the U.S. literally billions of dollars every year in energy losses, equipment damage, product contamination and medical infections. But biofilms also offer huge potential for cleaning up hazardous waste sites, filtering municipal and industrial water and wastewater, and forming biobarriers to protect soil and groundwater from contamination.

The complexity of biofilm activity and behavior requires research contributions from many disciplines such as biochemistry, engineering, mathematics and microbiology. New insights into the mysteries of biofilm are being published regularly in a wide variety of science and engineering journals.

As we said, if you find this interesting, there will be a place for you in this exciting and rapidly growing field. Read on.