Biofilm Lifecycle

One mechanism from Chapter 9: Microbiology.

flowchart TD
  A["Planktonic cell in bulk water"] --> B["Conditioning film on wetted surface"]
  B --> C["Weak reversible attachment"]
  C -->|"flow strips most cells away"| A
  C --> D["Permanent attachment, EPS production rises"]
  D --> E["EPS matrix forms barrier to access"]
  E --> F["Mature community, quorum sensing, gradients"]
  F --> G["Fragments shear off, primed cells"]
  G -->|"seed clean surfaces downstream"| B

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Diagrams · The Big Picture · Chapter 9