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biofilm

   Also found in: Medical, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.06 sec.
biofilm  (b-flm)
A complex structure adhering to surfaces that are regularly in contact with water, consisting of colonies of bacteria and usually other microorganisms such as yeasts, fungi, and protozoa that secrete a mucilaginous protective coating in which they are encased. Biofilms can form on solid or liquid surfaces as well as on soft tissue in living organisms, and are typically resistant to conventional methods of disinfection. Dental plaque, the slimy coating that fouls pipes and tanks, and algal mats on bodies of water are examples of biofilms. While biofilms are generally pathogenic in the body, causing such diseases as cystic fibrosis and otitis media, they can be used beneficially in treating sewage, industrial waste, and contaminated soil.


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A bacterial biofilm is a polysaccharide formation that is believed to be an important mediator of infection at the site of implanted material.
Management of post-tympanostomy tube otorrhea in children by Younis, Ramzi T. / Ear, Nose and Throat Journal
EAEC colonizes the intestinal mucosa, forming a thick biofilm that favors prolonged colonization and induces malnutrition (1-3).
Classifying Escherichia coli by Gomes, Tania A. Tardelli / Emerging Infectious Diseases
She's the chief reason to watch yet another biofilm on Elizabeth, who suffers from no dearth of cinematic reincarnations.
HBO'S ELIZABETH I' REIGNS SUPREME by Daily News (Los Angeles, CA)
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