Biofilm: A Bane to the Food Industry and Its Control Measures

The biofilm is formed by a cluster of unicellular microorganism predominantly bacteria that exists in both living surface such as dental plaque, food products and in non-living exteriors such as food contact surface and medical devices, etc. [1]. The cluster of microorganism in the biofilm is encased by extracellular matrix which is composed mainly of protein content, the exogenous DNA, and polysaccharides, which can act as an obstacle during the antimicrobial treatment, and develop resistance against the most of the antibiotics currently available in the market. The biofilm acquire resistance mainly due to the inadequate penetration of antibiotics in to the glycocalyx matrix, a vital part of biofilm, then by interaction of antimicrobial drug with the biofilm matrix reduces the activity of the drug, enzymes-mediated resistance, amendment in metabolic activity of bacterial cells inside the biofilm, genetic alteration in the target sites of the bacteria present in the biofilm, nature of the outer membrane, and efflux pumps that extrudes antibiotic agents from the biofilm matrix [2]. Genetic diversification of the bacterial community in the biofilm matrix also leads to the development of resistance against the antibiotics because of the existence of different bacterial species in close proximity, so they can transfer their resistance genes more effectively and rapidly [3]. The development of resistance against the antibiotics in the biofilm matrix leads to several deleterious health defects worldwide.