Biofilm Baithak
Introduction to Biofilms
Biofilms are resilient and organized communities of microbes embedded in a glue-like matrix of extracellular polymers. Bacteria and fungi form biofilms on biotic and abiotic surfaces, such as tooth enamel, skin, mucosa, catheters, prosthetic valves, as well as water pipelines and filtration units. In the human body, biofilms mediate a range of infections including chronic wound infections, pneumonia, endocarditis, and implant-associated infections, posing significant challenges to healthcare. Food, dairy, and pharmaceutical industries are also impacted, facing contamination and economic losses due to microbial biofilms.
Overview of India Biofilms Society
The India Biofilms Society (IBS) is a nationwide consortium of biofilm researchers, including independent investigators, postdocs, Ph.D. scholars, and students. IBS promotes biofilm research across academia, industry, and clinical domains and supports international collaborations. In February 2021, IBS hosted “Biofilm Baithak”, a virtual meet-up of India’s biofilm research community. This article summarizes key takeaways and resources for researchers.
Scientific Sessions and Panel Discussions
Building a Biofilm Research Group in India
Dr. Adline Solomon (Associate Dean, SASTRA University) described the evolution of her Quorum Sensing Lab, their success in securing extramural grants (ICMR, DST, DBT, DRDO, CSIR), and key partnerships—including MHRD-SPARC grants with The University of Hong Kong. Her recent industry collaboration led to a start-up, AI (Anti-Infectives), using AI-driven therapeutics.
Biofilm Solutions for CAUTI: An Industrial Perspective
Dr. Milind Choudhari (Founder, WeInnovate Biosolutions) presented SilvoguardTM, a silver-impregnated antimicrobial catheter developed to prevent Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTI)—a common hospital-acquired infection.
Biofilm Challenges in Health & Science
Dr. Deepti Jain (Regional Centre for Biotechnology) and Lt. Col. Mahima Lall (Armed Forces Medical College) emphasized the need for multidisciplinary research and better clinical integration. Key gaps include standard protocols, bacterial repositories, model systems, and combinatorial drug screening tools.
Challenges for Biofilm Research in India
Dr. Ashwini Chauhan (Tripura University) highlighted the low awareness of biofilms in India. He called for grassroots biofilm evangelism via hackathons, podcasts, and internships, alongside large-scale support to build repositories, training centers, and core facilities.
Learning from the UK Model: NBIC
Dr. Mark Richardson (CEO, National Biofilms Innovation Centre, UK) explained how NBIC bridges academia and industry through UKRI funding. NBIC’s governance model includes both executive and non-executive boards, and collaborative efforts with IBS may lead to impactful cross-border projects.
Introducing the Biofilm Journal
Dr. Tom Coenye (Senior Editor) discussed the Biofilm Journal, launched in 2019. It’s open-access, indexed in PubMed, and offers waivers for eligible authors. Researchers are encouraged to register as reviewers to contribute further.
Taking IBS International
Dr. Joey Shepherd (University of Sheffield), Dr. Neha Jain (IIT Jodhpur), and Dr. Srinandan (SASTRA) explored ways to internationalize IBS. Funding opportunities include GCRF and UKRI. Suggestions included starting with short-term collaborations and mobility grants.
Lab Troubleshooting
Sahana Vasudevan (DST–INSPIRE fellow) led an open discussion on designing biofilm experiments. Key tips included media choice for mono-/poly-microbial biofilms, pH, inoculum quantification, and staining methods. Standardization was emphasized, citing protocols such as Protocol 1 and Protocol 2.
“Why Should Biofilms Have All the Fun?”
Arval Viji Elango and Parvathy Venkateswaran (SASTRA) led a gamified learning session. Games like Connexions, What Comes Next?, and Turn it Over! used multimedia clues to educate and engage participants on biofilm concepts and protocols.
Future of @IndiaBiofilms Society
The India Biofilms Society envisions becoming the leading platform for biofilm-related science, innovation, and outreach in India. Future plans include building national researcher databases, instrumentation access lists, hosting student workshops, and establishing a formal governance framework for the society.
