Skip to main content
. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2010 Jul 31.
Published in final edited form as: Adv Dent Res. 2009 Jul 31;21(1):17–20. doi: 10.1177/0895937409335593

Figure 1.

Figure 1

Schematic representation of biofilm formation. Pioneer species (early colonizers) adhere to the pellicle-coated substratum and begin to divide and condition the surface (I & II). New organisms are recruited to the surface through co-adhesion and exposure of new binding sites, and polymers can be produced by the organisms or deposit from the planktonic phase (III). A mature biofilm with high community diversity becomes established (IV) and is maintained through metabolic cooperation and a balance of antagonistic and cooperative interactions of the individual organisms with the community and environment.