The Invisible Enemy & Their Secret Weapon (Biofilms)

The virus, bacteria, and fungi are an invisible enemy that takes lives. They can grow and feed off of paper, cardboard, drywall, ceiling tile, wood, wallboard, carpeting, wall paper, fiber-board, paint, dust, and insulation. They are a necessary part of life since they help to breakdown materials and make oxygen to make the planet Earth habitable. However, when human agriculture, animal husbandry and other mis-allocation of resource (antibiotic in animal farming etc) creates resistance ... new strains are developed.

Sometimes, these new strains are so virulent, they attack animals and humans. These outbreaks are called pandemics. Unfortunately, every 30 years humans have been wiped out due to a pandemic. Life saving and novel technology occurs every 50 years. This disparity is why according to my mentor: "bad things happen to good genes".

Fortunately research has allowed us to begin understanding why germs keep coming back. The answer lies in these invisible enemies secretions. These secretions are their secret weapon called biofilms. For example, bacteria rarely come as one single bacteria. Instead they grow together in crowds and sit on surfaces where they form a community. This community has excretes and secretes biofilms that allow the bacteria to attach themselves. Species such as methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (aka Mercer or flesh eating bacteria), molds such as candida albicans (aka the Yeast Infection) has become impossible to erradicate. The dilemma we face is that neither disinfectants and antibiotics, nor our immune system can destroy biofilms.

This is a particular problem in hospitals if these bacteria form a community on a catheter or implant where they could potentially cause a serious infection. Another problem area exists in saunas and spas where the bacteria (Legionella) can produce a biofilm inside the mechanical jets and bleach, alcohol and other disinfectants are unable to remove the Legionella biofilm. Once the customer lies down in the water, relaxed and exposed, their lungs quickly breathe in all the vapors and they get very sick (Legionaire's Disease). For the unlucky groups with weakened immune systems, death is inevitable.

Modern research shows that bacteria utilizes a touching mechanism to determine where to best form a biofilm. Once the biofilm is formed, any new bacteria can re-colonize rapidly onto the biofilm surface. Another example of bacterial biofilms is when you visit the dentist to clean your teeth. Utilizing a mechanical abrasion, the biofilm is removed but it only takes 2-3 days for the biofilm (in this case: plaque) to return.

As much as virus', bacteria and fungi are invisible enemies and we understand so little about them. This gives us a perspective of God and the vastness of the Universe. God is invisible to us and yet He is awesome and powerful. Like anything that is invisible, we need to respect and understand that this is a power we don't understand and cannot fully understand.

Certain scientists have tried to enslave/recreate new submissive strains of virus, bacteria and fungi to help expand agriculture, farming, animal husbandry and commerce. Occasional outbreaks have occurred and threatened public safety. Nature is not something we should control instead we should live in harmony and balance. Playing God is dangerous thing especially when the 'nature of man' can at times be its own worst enemy.

2009 Research Studies: Chronically infected wounds are a costly source of suffering. An important factor in the failure of a sore to heal is the presence of multiple species of bacteria, living cooperatively in highly organized biofilms. The biofilm protects the bacteria from antibiotic therapy and the patient's immune response. Honey and certain agave has been found useful as a wound treatment for centuries. While the components responsible for its antibacterial properties are unclear, the honey and agave were found to be able to disrupt some kinds of biofilms. Reintroduction of honey and agave as conventional wound treatments may help improve individual wound care, prevent invasive infections, eliminate colonization, interrupt outbreaks and thereby preserve current antibiotic stocks. Sample Reference:

Authors: Patricia Merckoll ;  Tom ystein Jonassen;  Marie Elisabeth Vad;  Stig L. Jeansson a; Kjetil K. Melby

Affiliations: Department of Microbiology, Oslo University Hospital, Ullev l and the Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

Publication: Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 41 , Issue 5, 2009 , pages 341 - 347