In nature, the
biofilm mode of life is of great importance in the
cell cycle for many
microorganisms. Perhaps because of
biofilm complexity and variability, the characterization of a given
microbial system, in terms of
biofilm formation potential, structure and associated physiological activity, in a large-scale, standardized and systematic manner has been
hindered by the absence of high-throughput methods. This outlook is now starting to change as new methods involving the
utilization of microtiter-plates and automated
spectrophotometry and
microscopy systems are being developed to perform large-scale testing of
microbial biofilms. Here, we evaluate if the time is ripe to start an integrated omics approach, i.e., the generation and interrogation of large
datasets, to biofilms-"biofomics". This omics approach would bring much needed insight into how
biofilm formation ability is affected by a number of environmental, physiological and mutational factors and how these factors interplay between themselves in a standardized manner. This could then lead to the creation of a database where
biofilm signatures are identified and interrogated. Nevertheless, and before embarking on such an enterprise, the
selection of a versatile, robust, high-throughput
biofilm growing device and of appropriate methods for
biofilm analysis will have to be performed. Whether such device and analytical methods are already available, particularly for complex
heterotrophic biofilms is, however, very debatable.
