Slime exopolysaccharides

Although exopolysaccharides do not normally have a structural role, they do form structures that can be detected by either light or electron microscopy. Exopolysaccharides may form part of a capsule closely attached to the microbial cell surface, or appear as loose slime secreted by the cell but not directly attached to it mucoid Exopolysaccharide producing cells usually form mucoid colonies on solid media and colonies liquid cultures of these cells may become very viscous. However, growth conditions can... 

Bacterial Polysaccharides. Many bacterial species release exopolysaccharides into their environment. The synthesis of capsular and slime polysaccharides or similar sticky surface materials serves as an adhesive to attach the bacteria to solid substrates, even in a marine environment. These polysaccharides range from compositionally simple homopolymers to very complex heteropolymers composed of several individual sugars linked in a variety of ways. 

Bacterial polysaccharides have other roles in the natural environment that depend less on their antigenic specificity. Polysaccharide slime secreted by bacteria can serve as an adhesive, allowing microbial exo-systerns to resist the scouring action of water flow. The maintenance of good crumb structure in soils depends upon the exopolysaccharides of bacterial origin. 

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