Biotechnology Laboratory

Center for Innovation, Inc.

Household Product Testing

Biofilms are complex communities of microorganisms that can include bacteria, fungi, and protozoa enmeshed in a extracellular polymeric matrix.  Biofilms are structurally heterogeneous and genetically diverse with elaborate community interactions.  Biofilms can form on surfaces exposed to or submersed in aqueous solutions.  When microorganisms attach to surfaces, they “turn on” genes that differentiate them from their planktonic counterparts.  Surface-attached microorganisms show increased resistance to chemical attack.  Biofilms provide a dense and protected environment where the outer, more active microorganism protect the interior, less active community. 

 

Materials such as metals, thermoplastics, and rubbers used in food-processing environments can become scratched and scored making them difficult to clean and sanitize.  The surface imperfections provide areas for microorganisms to adhere to and form biofilms upon prolonged contact.  These biofilms then serve as a source of pathogens to be released to food and other surfaces. 

 

Other household surfaces including sponges, can openers, water bottles, toilets, sinks, countertops, showers, bathmats, and shower curtains can harbor biofilms.

 

CFI can develop client specific test methods to evaluate household sanitizers, biocide agents, surfaces (e.g., cutting boards, shower curtains), etc. with regard to (as appropriate)

 

             ∙ prevention of initial adhesion events

 

             ∙ removal of established biofilms

 

             ∙ potential for development of resistant microflora

 

             ∙ minimum biofilm inhibitory concentration (MBIC)

 

             ∙ minimum biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC)