Sessile bacterium

Definition

A microbial cell that has attached to a surface and shifted from a free-floating to a fixed mode of growth.

When a planktonic cell finds a low-flow zone or surface irregularity and attachment becomes more permanent, EPS production increases and the floating cell becomes an attached, sessile bacterium. This transition forms the first layer of protection and marks the start of biofilm development. The sessile state is where the real damage and persistence occur, yet it is the hardest part of the system to monitor.

Related concepts

Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) · Biofilm · Attachment

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Part of The Blueprint of Water · 🦠 biology