In nature, most bacteria live in surface. Biofilms are commonly developed by the accumulation of microbes, embedded in a self-secreted extra-cellular matrix on solid surfaces or liquid interfaces.

There are significant threats to the atmosphere and public health because of the release of both organic and inorganic chemicals into the ecosystem due to domestic and industrial practices. Current traditional wastewater treatment plants are inadequate to fully eradicate pollutants, and thus more efficient and creative alternatives to treatment are commonly discussed. Bacterial biofilm-mediated wastewater treatment has demonstrated many benefits relative to other new innovations of emerging biological processes. A recent emerging topic for microbiologists to work in the fields of climate, manufacturing, agriculture, and health is microbial biofilm. In an adverse climate, biofilms increase the growth and colonization of microbes on the surface and protect cells. Recently, the potential of microbes enclosed by biofilms for bioremediation processes has been realized. In biofilms, the mutually beneficial activities of several microorganisms draw attention to xenobiotics and their application for pollutant depletion in agricultural plants. Microbial biofilms are used on a wide scale to degrade toxins in multiple bioreactors and biofilters. However, it remains difficult to establish a stable and effective biofilm-mediated remediation technology with viability for massive-scale deployment. To enhance biofilm-mediated bioremediation, an in-depth understanding of biofilm formation processes and basic mechanisms is therefore required.

Antibiotics have enabled the most important advances in healthcare, and their clinical implementation ranks as one of the most significant medical achievements. But the biofilm communities have led to the development of antimicrobial tolerance/resistance causing persistent and chronic infections. The enhanced antimicrobial tolerance/resistance is multifactorial. These factors well-describe the recalcitrance of such infectors and ensure the survival of biofilm cells even in the most aggressive antimicrobial treatment regimens which would otherwise be lethal for the planktonic cells. The emergence of antimicrobial tolerance/resistance has led to a new set of problems but simultaneously provides an opportunity to the field of science for providing solutions. Novel approaches have been developed for targeting biofilm consortiums. This chapter provides a comprehensive outlook on the factors leading to tolerance/resistance to antimicrobial agents in biofilms and the biocidal chemistries to combat this uprising problem.

Bacterial biofilms comprise surface-associated microbial communities embedded in a self-produced polymeric matrix. Biofilm formation is a protective mechanism of bacteria to tackle adverse environmental conditions. However, biofilm-associated disease is a considerable threat that have challenges present therapeutic strategies. The persistence of biofilms also causes considerable problems in industrial processes. This chapter provides an overview of the development and the dynamics of Pseudomonas putida biofilm. P. putida is one of the most well studied model Gram-negative bacteria, which has exhibited biofilm formation using a sequential process that includes attachment of cells to the surface, formation of microcolonies and biofilm proliferation, and maturation. Role of exopolymeric matrix, adhesions, cell-to-cell signaling and cellular motility in biofilm formation is discussed. The dynamics of P. putida biofilm is associated with the local biofilm dissolution and migration of cells resulting in changed spatial organization in response to various factors like temperature, pH, metal, and nutritional stress is also presented. The underlying molecular mechanisms involving the genetic elements like LapA/LapBCE/LapGD system genes are critical for the biofilm development. Further, various physical, chemical and biological methods for biofilm control discussed in this chapter provide insight for developing powerful therapeutic strategies for biofilm control. Finally, the advances in the development of novel nanomaterial-based biofilm control strategies and promises of combination therapy are discussed, which can be rationally employed for effective biofilm inhibition and disruption.

Biofilm communities are non-homogeneous aggregates of mixed species that function with the help of pair-wise interactions. These interactions are competitive and synergistic, but the former enables the adaptation processes. Hence, it was studied more extensively. Different technologies such as sequencing, modeling, and metagenomic studies have been beneficial over the years. They are being used to identify, approach, and understand these complex, competitive mechanisms for various species. The evolutionary and ecological viewpoints for these biofilm communities help to understand the patterns of coexistence and means of self-restraint and facilitation. In this review, we describe the mechanisms of ecological importance: exploitative competition, interference competition, contact-mediated competition, and the use of specialized or multifunctional metabolites for the biofilm communities to run smoothly. The intra-population competition mechanisms and the evolution in the competition are also important aspects for stability. The dynamics of these communities with emphasis on molecular methods and techniques are presented in this review.

Bacteria synthesize a wide range of extracellular matrix composed mainly of high molecular weight polymers. These polymers are highly hydrated and primarily composed of polysaccharides. Some bacteria produces matrix made of proteins, nucleic acids, peptidoglycan and lipids. This component becomes the integral part of multicellular structural elements forming an architectural assembly termed “Biofilms.” In biofilms, the aggregated microbial cells adhere to biological or nonbiological surfaces forming a sticky sheath, which is cocooned by an outer polymer layer. Biofilms plays a prominent role in bacterial existence and also for the environment. The formation of biofilms allows the bacteria to resist stress conditions by offering the single celled microbes, a multicellular lifestyle. Changes in external factors such as nutrient, pH, and the presence of certain chemicals trigger the signals for the production of biofilm. The extracellular matrix can also provide benefits to bacteria against immune effectors and desiccation. Several studies provide details on the advances of bacterial biofilms. This chapter provides an overview of the biofilm formation by bacteria, particularly extracellular polysaccharides and their function.

Pseudomonas putida are ubiquitous Gram-negative, rhizosphere saprophytic bacteria that promote plant growth. They exhibit certain antagonistic activities against plant pathogen and also possess the capability to degrade pollutants. Rhizosphere fitness has a crucial role in the formation of biofilms, and utilization of Quorum sensing promotes structural development in biofilm.

Biofilms can be defined as either single or multilayered architectural colony of microorganisms, which survive in the matrix made up of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) secreted by them. Biofilm formation occurs mostly in industrial equipments posing a reduction in quality and loss of economy. In this regard, this chapter discusses few of the best known bacterial biofilm models like Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus subtilis and certain effective ways of controlling the adversities. Nanoparticles can be considered as an effective way to reduce the microbial attachment. The use of mathematical modeling to identify the early stage biofilm formation is a primary focus of this chapter. Certain physicochemical approaches, that is, super high magnetic field, application of electricity will also be highlighted to unveil the killing mechanism of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Chemical methods including the use of antibiotics, biocides, and ion coatings to prevent the formation of biofilms will also be discussed.

Antimicrobial tolerance in biofilms is described in detail particularly by meta-synthesis based on literature evidence and particular information. A differential tolerance constituent incorporating the estimation of eliminating microscopic organism is explained to provide significant justification for the convenient investigation. Tolerance to antimicrobial representative is a typical peculiarity of microbial biofilm organization. Primarily, biofilm constitutes any mutually dependent microorganism upon one another with source to food supply to syntrophic cells. This comprises some certain microorganisms like various sort of bacteria, which cling to the surface part of object or body in a slightly wet conditions and set in motion for reproducing. The microorganism starts constructing attachment to the surface of body or substance by discharging glutinous material. Biofilms are of important healthcare concern because of their development on medical apparatus used in major infections. In addition to this, there is growing confirmation exhibiting their potential for forming inside persistent injuries that arises procrastinate relieve of wounds and infections. In view of several reasons for instance extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) generates and terminates sub-inhibitory concentrations of antimicrobials spreading to bacterial cells and their moderate growth rate, which causes few antibiotics futile and the existence of persister cells that prevent treatment and turn into antimicrobial tolerant by developing a state of quiescence. Nevertheless, biofilms attributes primarily include numerous species. Currently, the mechanism of action of biocides is also taken into consideration. Moreover, factors of tolerance for biofilms are dependable of areal cell density at that time of therapeutics together with lifetime of biofilm. Apart from this, physical diversification is also a chief characteristic for the tolerance of the biofilm community.

In studies related to microbial physiology, social interactions like quorum sensing (QS) play a vital regulatory role and have closely interlinked mechanisms. Based on reported data, diverse microbial groups have the capability to form biofilms. Biofilms comprise multicellular syntrophic-associated microorganisms, with cell–cell and also cell–surface attachment. Based on specified strain and the environmental factors, microorganisms use varied mechanisms for the growth and development of biofilm. The primary importance underlying biofilm development is to understand microbial defense mechanisms against any external agents. Interestingly, biofilms extend a broad spectrum of additional benefits like cell–cell signaling, environmental pollutant control, drug resistance, and host–immune attacks. Simultaneously, biofilm confers various detrimental effects in natural, industrial, and public health environment. This chapter highlights about microbial biofilms with different metabolic degradation ability and potentially serve as a promising management strategy for environment organic pollutants.