Slime layer

A slime layer in bacteria is an easily removable (e.g. by centrifugation), unorganized layer of extracellular material that surrounds bacteria cells. Specifically, this consists mostly of exopolysaccharides, glycoproteins, and glycolipids.[1] Therefore, the slime layer is considered as a subset of glycocalyx.

While slime layers and capsules are found most commonly in bacteria, while rare, these structures do exist in archaea as well.[2] This information about structure and function is also transferable to these microorganisms too.

  1. ^ "Bacterial Glycocalyx - Capsule & Slime Layer". www.scienceprofonline.com. Retrieved 2016-02-04.
  2. ^ "7: Archaea". Biology LibreTexts. 2018-02-06. Retrieved 2020-05-16.