Building biofilm: engineering for life off Earth

Most microbial life on Earth exists as biofilms, large interkingdom microbial communities living within a self-synthesised matrix of extracellular polymeric substances. These living structures are critical to the survival of all life on Earth, driving biogeochemical processes within ecosystems and performing key functions in the maintenance of animal and plant health. As powerhouses of these life-enabling processes, biofilms are an untapped resource which can be utilised to address several challenges of human space exploration. To explore this concept, this mini review first presents the viewpoint of biofilms as a multicellular entity akin to rudimentary tissue and explains why they should be investigated through this lens. This is followed by an overview of current biofilm engineering technologies, the gaps in our understanding, and the highlighting of key research priorities. Finally, this review discusses how biofilm engineering can be used to reduce health risk, promote sustainable human spaceflight, and support exploration of other planetary environments.