EVALUATION OF ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTY OF EXOPOLYSACCHRIDES OBTAINED FROM BIOFILM PRODUCING BACTERIA

Stessy Ann Punnen*, Maleeka Begum S. F. and Sunitha Poulose

ABSTRACT

Biofilm formed by various micro-organisms potentially provide a suitable microenvironment for efficient bioremediation processes. High cell density and stress resistance properties of the biofilm environment provide opportunities for efficient metabolism of number of hydrophobic and toxic compounds. Bacterial biofilm formation is often regulated by quorum sensing (QS) which is a population density-based cell–cell communication process via signalling molecules. Biofilm formation is a widespread phenomenon pertaining to microorganisms attaching itself to a surface that is in continuous contact with water. It occurs widely on the ships hulls, implanted medical devices, dentures, eyes due to non-compatible contact lenses, water distribution systems, showers tubes, cooling pipes in nuclear reactors, etc. Biofilms are responsible for loss of billions of dollars to the industries, since they cause fouling of ship hulls, water treatment and distribution systems, causing corrosion of pipes and thereby resulting in contamination. Biofilms are also of great interest in medical context since they result in persistent and chronic infections and also contaminate implanted devices. Environmentally and economically viable solutions are increasingly being investigated to prevent and control the biofilm formation. The current study is to isolate organisms from biofilm sample, identify them and extract the exopolysaccharides produced and testing the EPS for anti-oxidant activity

Keywords: Biofilm, exopolysaccharide, antioxidant activity.