Biofilm Collection

Used dental floss, SEM
Used dental floss. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of dental plaque on strands of used dental floss. Plaque consists of a film of bacteria embedded in a glycoprotein matrix

Dental plaque and tartar. Clinical view of a the teeth in a patients lower jaw, with the incisors coated in bacterial plaque and tartar (brown)

Close-Up Of Green Slime On Pond, Hawk Island, Georgian Bay, Ontario, Canada

Close-Up Of Frog In Slimy Green Pond, Georgian Bay, Ontario, Canada

Microscopic view of corncob formation in dental plaque, believed to be limited to strains of Corynebacterium matruchotii and Streptococcus sanguis

Bacterial mat through meadow, Iceland

Bacterial biofilm enzyme F006 / 9658
Bacterial biofilm enzyme. Molecular model of the enzyme glucansucrase from the bacterium Streptococcus mutans. This enzyme is used to form bacterial biofilms on teeth that cause dental caries

MRSA bacteria, SEM C016 / 9422
MRSA bacteria. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA, round) bacteria

MRSA bacteria, SEM C016 / 9421
MRSA bacteria. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA, round) bacteria

Kenorland prehistoric landscape, artwork
Kenorland prehistoric landscape. Artwork showing a landscape at the time of the Kenorland supercontinent (2.7 to 2.1 billion years ago) during the Archean Era and Proterozoic Era

Gingivitis, SEM C014 / 1443
Gingivitis. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a large number of bacteria (round) in the gingiva (gums) of a human mouth

Gingivitis, SEM C014 / 1444
Gingivitis. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a large number of bacteria (yellow) in the gingiva (gums) of a human mouth

Gingivitis, SEM C013 / 7136
Gingivitis. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a large number of bacteria (red) in the gingiva (gums) of a human mouth

Gingivitis, SEM C013 / 7135
Gingivitis. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a large number of bacteria (yellow) in the gingiva (gums) of a human mouth

Gingivitis, SEM C013 / 7134
Gingivitis. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a large number of bacteria (green) in the gingiva (gums) of a human mouth

Used and unused toothpicks, SEM
Used and unused toothpicks. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of an unused (left) and a used (right) toothpicks. The used toothpick has a blunt end and is covered in dental plaque

Used toothbrush bristle, SEM
Used toothbrush bristle. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of dental plaque on a bristle from a used toothbrush. Plaque consists of a film of bacteria embedded in a glycoprotein matrix

Dental plaque, SEM
Dental plaque, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). Plaque consists of a film of bacteria (red) embedded in a glycoprotein matrix

Green algae, light micrograph
Green algae. Fluorescent light micrograph of the green filamentous alga Klebsormidium sp.. Chlorophyll, the pigment responsible for photosynthesis, is red

Bacterial biofilm, light micrograph
Bacterial biofilm. Light micrograph of bacteria (round) forming a biofilm. A biofilm is a colony of bacteria that forms a coating on a surface

Myxococcus xanthus bacteria, SEM
Myxococcus xanthus bacteria, coloured scanningelectron micrograph (SEM). M. xanthus is a rodshaped Gram-negative bacterium that resides inthe soil

All Professionally Made to Order for Quick Shipping

Biofilm is a fascinating phenomenon that can be found in various environments, from dental hygiene to outer space, and is a slimy substance that forms when bacteria adhere to surfaces and create a protective matrix. In the realm of oral health they can be seen when using dental floss. As we glide the floss between our teeth, we may notice a sticky residue being removed - this is dental plaque, which eventually hardens into tartar if not properly addressed. Moving beyond our mouths, it also exists in nature's watery habitats. A close-up view of green slime on a pond at Hawk Island in Georgian Bay, Ontario reveals the intricate structure formed by microorganisms thriving in water. Even frogs are not immune to encountering biofilm. In another close-up shot taken at Georgian Bay, Ontario, we see a frog immersed in slimy green pond water – an environment where biofilms flourish. Interestingly enough, even NASA has delved into studying biofilms for their implications on space exploration. At Kennedy Space Center in Florida, researchers like Jason Fischer and Brint Bauer have been investigating how these films develop and behave under unique conditions. Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), scientists examine samples collected from water tanks filled with green dye as part of their studies at Kennedy Space Center's Air and Water Revitalization lab. These tanks have spent five years floating through space. Carolina Franco and Christina Khodadad are among the experts who conduct biological studies on these two tanks of water gathered from outer space missions. Their research aims to understand how microorganisms adapt within enclosed systems during long-duration space travel. The study of biofilms provides valuable insights into microbial life and its ability to survive extreme conditions both here on Earth and beyond our planet's atmosphere.