User:Parismm/New sandbox

Function[edit]
Production of EPS followed by adhesion to the surface give rise to the formation of biofilm. compositional support as well as protection of microbial communities from the harsh environments are the major roles of matrix which compromises EPS. One of the challenges of EPS-enriched biofilms is regarding its formation on implant surfaces which would contribute to microbial accumulation, cross-kingdom interaction, antimicrobial resistance, biofilm virulence, and, consequently, peri-implant tissue damage. In 1960s and 1970s, light was shed on the presence of exopolysaccharides in the plaque associated with tooth decay. In the field of paleomicrobiology, dental biofilms and their EPS components on provide the scientists with information about the composition of ancient microbial and host biomolecules as well as the diet. Minerals in EPS were found to contribute to morphogenesis of bacteria (in Bacillus subtilis and Mycobacterium species), structural integrity of the matrix and also associate with medical conditions e.g. calcite generated by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, calcium and magnesium causing catheter encrustation in the biofilms of Proteus mirabilis, Proteus vulgaris, and Providencia rettgeri, presence of CaCO3 in the matrix of B. subtilis and Mycobacterium smegmatis biofilms.

from Wikipedia : "Capsular exopolysaccharides can protect pathogenic bacteria against desiccation and predation, and contribute to their pathogenicity. Sessile bacteria fixed and aggregated in biofilms are less vulnerable compared to drifting planktonic bacteria, as the EPS matrix is able to act as a protective diffusion barrier. The physical and chemical characteristics of bacterial cells can be affected by EPS composition, influencing factors such as cellular recognition, aggregation, and adhesion in their natural environments. Furthermore, the EPS layer acts as a nutrient trap, facilitating bacterial growth.

''The exopolysaccharides of some strains of lactic acid bacteria, e.g., Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris, contribute a gelatinous texture to fermented milk products (e.g., Viili), and these polysaccharides are also digestible. An example of the industrial use of exopolysaccharides is the application of dextran in panettone and other breads in the bakery ind''ustry."

New Approaches to target Biofilms
Application of Nanoparticles has shed new light on how to target biofilms due to their high surface-area-to-volume ratio, their ability to penetrate to the deeper layers of biofilms and the capacity to releasing antimicrobial agents in a controlled way. Studying NP-EPS interactions would provide deeper understanding to develop more effective NP. Some factors that would alter the potentials of the NP to transport antimicrobial agents into the biofilm include physicochemical interactions of the NPs with EPS components, the characteristics of the water spaces (pores) within the EPS matrix and the EPS matrix viscosity. Size and surface properties (charge and functional groups) of the NPs are, respectively, the major determinants of the penetration in and the interaction with the EPS.