= Extracellular polymeric substance
{wiki=Extracellular_polymeric_substance}
Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) are complex mixtures of high-molecular-weight substances produced by microorganisms, particularly bacteria and other forms of microbial communities. EPS are a crucial component of biofilms, which are structured communities of microorganisms attached to surfaces. Key characteristics of EPS include: 1. **Composition**: EPS is primarily composed of polysaccharides, proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids. The specific composition can vary significantly among different microbial species and environmental conditions.
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