While slime layers and capsules are found most commonly in bacteria, these structures do exist in archaea as well, albeit rarely.
Slime layers are amorphous and inconsistent in thickness, being produced in various quantities depending upon the cell type and environment.
[4] Researchers suggested that a cell will slow formation of the slime layer after around 9 days of growth, perhaps due to slower metabolic activity.
For example, the plaque that forms on the surfaces of teeth is caused by a biofilm formation of primarily Streptococcus mutans and the slow breakdown of tooth enamel.
[8] In addition, a slime layer may be produced in ground dwelling prokaryotes to prevent unnecessary drying due to annual temperature and humidity shifts.
Some bacteria have shown a protective response to attacks from the immune system by using their slime layers to absorb antibodies.
[11] Additionally, some bacteria like Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus anthracis can produce biofilm structures that are effective against phagocyte attacks from the host immune system.
Staphylococcus aureus is a pathogenic bacteria that causes several human infections with a plethora of virulence factors such as: biofilm formation, quorum sensing, and exotoxins to name a few.