slime layer

(noun)

A slime layer in bacteria is an easily removed, diffuse, unorganized layer of extracellular material that surrounds bacteria cells.

Related Terms

Examples of slime layer in the following topics:

  • Glycocalyx

    • A glycocalyx(capsule or slime layer)is an external coating of bacteria with protective function, made mostly of polysaccharides.
    • A distinct, gelatinous glycocalyx is called abacterial capsule, whereas an irregular, diffuse layer is called a slime layer .
    • A slime layer in bacteria is an easily removed, diffuse, unorganized layer of extracellular material that surrounds bacteria cells.
    • The slime layer also allows bacteria to adhere to smooth surfaces such as prosthetic medical devices and catheters.
    • The slime layer is not to be confused with the S-layer, a separate and highly organised glycoprotein layer surrounding many bacterial cells.

  • Anaerobiosis and N2 Fixation

    • Some microbes have a proteoglycan rich extra cellular matrix which traps a layer of water, often referred to as a slime layer.
    • This slime layer acts as a barrier for oxygen.

  • Biofilms

    • Biofilm EPS, also referred to as slime, is a polymeric conglomeration composed of extracellular DNA, proteins, and polysaccharides.
    • One benefit of this environment is increased resistance to detergents and antibiotics, as the dense extracellular matrix and the outer layer of cells protect the interior of the community.

  • The Deltaproteobacteria

    • The myxobacteria ("slime bacteria") are a group of bacteria that predominantly live in the soil and feed on insoluble organic substances.

  • Cytophaga and Relatives

    • However, a few mechanisms have been partially identified in certain species that utilize the gliding locomotion and these include the use of a type IV pili, the use of focal adhesion complexes distributed through the body, and the use of a polysaccharide slime that is ejected from one the ends of the body.

  • Extracellular Immune Avoidance

    • Biofilm EPS, which is also referred to as slime, is a polymeric conglomeration generally composed of extracellular DNA, proteins, and polysaccharides.

  • Iron Oxidation

    • In the process, the bacteria produce a brown slime that builds up on well screens, pipes, and plumbing fixtures.

  • Phylogeny of the Eukarya

  • Starvation-Induced Fruiting Bodies

    • When starved of amino acids, myxobacteria, or slime bacteria, detect surrounding cells in a process known as quorum sensing.

  • Gram-Negative Outer Membrane

    • The Gram-negative cell wall is composed of an outer membrane, a peptidoglygan layer, and a periplasm.
    • In the Gram-negative Bacteria the cell wall is composed of a single layer of peptidoglycan surrounded by a membranous structure called the outer membrane.
    • The peptidoglycan layer is non-covalently anchored to lipoprotein molecules called Braun's lipoproteins through their hydrophobic head.
    • Together, the plasma membrane and the cell wall (outer membrane, peptidoglycan layer, and periplasm) constitute the gram-negative envelope.