Microbiology
Biofilm Formation
The process by which microorganisms attach to surfaces and secrete extracellular matrix to form structured communities resistant to antibiotics and immune defenses.
Biological Context
Biofilms are everywhere: dental plaque, slime on rocks, infections on medical devices. Bacteria in biofilms behave differently than free-floating cells, communicating through quorum sensing and sharing resources. Biofilms are 100-1000x more antibiotic resistant.
Business Application
Organizational biofilms: entrenched groups resistant to change. Understanding biofilm dynamics helps break up resistant organizational structures or build protective ones.