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Microbiology (Reading, England) Dec 2023In this primer on biofilms and their role in infections, we trace the historical roots of microbial understanding from Van Leeuwenhoek's observations to Bill Costerton's...
In this primer on biofilms and their role in infections, we trace the historical roots of microbial understanding from Van Leeuwenhoek's observations to Bill Costerton's groundbreaking work, which solidified biofilms' significance in infections. biofilm research, investigating patient samples and utilizing diverse host models, has yielded invaluable insights into these complex microbial communities. However, it comes with several challenges, particularly regarding replicating biofilm infections accurately in the laboratory. biofilm analyses involve various techniques, revealing biofilm architecture, composition, and behaviour, while gaps in knowledge persist regarding infection initiation and source, diversity, and the Infectious Microenvironment (IME). Ultimately, the study of biofilms in infections remains a dynamic and evolving field poised to transform our approach to combat biofilm-associated diseases.
Topics: Humans; Biofilms; Infections
PubMed: 38050845
DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.001407 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2022
Topics: Biofilms; Candida albicans; Mucous Membrane
PubMed: 36275036
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.1049347 -
Nature Reviews. Microbiology Jan 2021Antibiotic resistance is a global human health threat, causing routine treatments of bacterial infections to become increasingly difficult. The problem is exacerbated by... (Review)
Review
Antibiotic resistance is a global human health threat, causing routine treatments of bacterial infections to become increasingly difficult. The problem is exacerbated by biofilm formation by bacterial pathogens on the surfaces of indwelling medical and dental devices that facilitate high levels of tolerance to antibiotics. The development of new antibacterial nanostructured surfaces shows excellent prospects for application in medicine as next-generation biomaterials. The physico-mechanical interactions between these nanostructured surfaces and bacteria lead to bacterial killing or prevention of bacterial attachment and subsequent biofilm formation, and thus are promising in circumventing bacterial infections. This Review explores the impact of surface roughness on the nanoscale in preventing bacterial colonization of synthetic materials and categorizes the different mechanisms by which various surface nanopatterns exert the necessary physico-mechanical forces on the bacterial cell membrane that will ultimately result in cell death.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacterial Adhesion; Bacterial Infections; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; Biofilms; Cell Membrane; Humans; Mechanical Phenomena; Nanostructures; Surface Properties
PubMed: 32807981
DOI: 10.1038/s41579-020-0414-z -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2020Biofilms are communities of microorganisms that are attached to a biological or abiotic surface and are surrounded by a self-produced extracellular matrix. Cells within... (Review)
Review
Biofilms are communities of microorganisms that are attached to a biological or abiotic surface and are surrounded by a self-produced extracellular matrix. Cells within a biofilm have intrinsic characteristics that are different from those of planktonic cells. Biofilm resistance to antimicrobial agents has drawn increasing attention. It is well-known that medical device- and tissue-associated biofilms may be the leading cause for the failure of antibiotic treatments and can cause many chronic infections. The eradication of biofilms is very challenging. Many researchers are working to address biofilm-related infections, and some novel strategies have been developed and identified as being effective and promising. Nevertheless, more preclinical studies and well-designed multicenter clinical trials are critically needed to evaluate the prospects of these strategies. Here, we review information about the mechanisms underlying the drug resistance of biofilms and discuss recent progress in alternative therapies and promising strategies against microbial biofilms. We also summarize the strengths and weaknesses of these strategies in detail.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Infective Agents; Biofilms; Extracellular Matrix; Multicenter Studies as Topic
PubMed: 32850471
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.00359 -
Journal of Industrial Microbiology &... Jul 2022Microbial biofilms are ubiquitous. In marine and freshwater ecosystems, microbe-mineral interactions sustain biogeochemical cycles, while biofilms found on plants and... (Review)
Review
Microbial biofilms are ubiquitous. In marine and freshwater ecosystems, microbe-mineral interactions sustain biogeochemical cycles, while biofilms found on plants and animals can range from pathogens to commensals. Moreover, biofouling and biocorrosion represent significant challenges to industry. Bioprocessing is an opportunity to take advantage of biofilms and harness their utility as a chassis for biocommodity production. Electrochemical bioreactors have numerous potential applications, including wastewater treatment and commodity production. The literature examining these applications has demonstrated that the cell-surface interface is vital to facilitating these processes. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the state of knowledge regarding biofilms' role in bioprocessing. This mini-review discusses bacterial biofilm formation, cell-surface redox interactions, and the role of microbial electron transfer in bioprocesses. It also highlights some current goals and challenges with respect to microbe-mediated bioprocessing and future perspectives.
Topics: Bioelectric Energy Sources; Biofilms; Ecosystem; Electrodes; Electron Transport; Electrons; Oxidation-Reduction
PubMed: 35381088
DOI: 10.1093/jimb/kuac012 -
International Journal of Molecular... Apr 2024The pathogenesis of chronic wounds (CW) involves a multifaceted interplay of biochemical, immunological, hematological, and microbiological interactions. Biofilm... (Review)
Review
The pathogenesis of chronic wounds (CW) involves a multifaceted interplay of biochemical, immunological, hematological, and microbiological interactions. Biofilm development is a significant virulence trait which enhances microbial survival and pathogenicity and has various implications on the development and management of CW. Biofilms induce a prolonged suboptimal inflammation in the wound microenvironment, associated with delayed healing. The composition of wound fluid (WF) adds more complexity to the subject, with proven pro-inflammatory properties and an intricate crosstalk among cytokines, chemokines, microRNAs, proteases, growth factors, and ECM components. One approach to achieve information on the mechanisms of disease progression and therapeutic response is the use of multiple high-throughput 'OMIC' modalities (genomic, proteomic, lipidomic, metabolomic assays), facilitating the discovery of potential biomarkers for wound healing, which may represent a breakthrough in this field and a major help in addressing delayed wound healing. In this review article, we aim to summarize the current progress achieved in host-microbiome crosstalk in the spectrum of CW healing and highlight future innovative strategies to boost the host immune response against infections, focusing on the interaction between pathogens and their hosts (for instance, by harnessing microorganisms like probiotics), which may serve as the prospective advancement of vaccines and treatments against infections.
Topics: Humans; Wound Healing; Microbiota; Biofilms; Animals; Chronic Disease; Host-Pathogen Interactions
PubMed: 38731848
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25094629 -
Phytomedicine : International Journal... Oct 2023After almost 100 years since evidence of biofilm mode of growth and decades of intensive investigation about their formation, regulatory pathways and mechanisms of... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
After almost 100 years since evidence of biofilm mode of growth and decades of intensive investigation about their formation, regulatory pathways and mechanisms of antimicrobial tolerance, nowadays there are still no therapeutic solutions to eradicate bacterial biofilms and their biomedical related issues.
PURPOSE
This review intends to provide a comprehensive summary of the recent and most relevant published studies on plant-based products, or their isolated compounds with antibiofilm activity mechanisms of action or identified molecular targets against bacterial biofilms. The objective is to offer a new perspective of most recent data for clinical researchers aiming to prevent or eliminate biofilm-associated infections caused by bacterial pathogens.
METHODS
The search was performed considering original research articles published on PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus from 2015 to April 2023, using keywords such as "antibiofilm", "antivirulence", "phytochemicals" and "plant extracts".
RESULTS
Over 180 articles were considered for this review with a focus on the priority human pathogens listed by World Health Organization, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli. Inhibition and detachment or dismantling of biofilms formed by these pathogens were found using plant-based extract/products or derivative compounds. Although combination of plant-based products and antibiotics were recorded and discussed, this topic is currently poorly explored and only for a reduced number of bacterial species.
CONCLUSIONS
This review clearly demonstrates that plant-based products or derivative compounds may be a promising therapeutic strategy to eliminate bacterial biofilms and their associated infections. After thoroughly reviewing the vast amount of research carried out over years, it was concluded that plant-based products are mostly able to prevent biofilm formation through inhibition of quorum sensing signals, but also to disrupt mature biofilms developed by multidrug resistant bacteria targeting the biofilm extracellular polymeric substance. Flavonoids and phenolic compounds seemed the most effective against bacterial biofilms.
Topics: Humans; Extracellular Polymeric Substance Matrix; Biofilms; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Infective Agents; Bacteria; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Microbial Sensitivity Tests
PubMed: 37499434
DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2023.154973 -
Biotechnology Advances 2021Harnessing the potential of biocatalytic conversion of renewable biomass into value-added products is still hampered by unfavorable process economics. This has promoted... (Review)
Review
Harnessing the potential of biocatalytic conversion of renewable biomass into value-added products is still hampered by unfavorable process economics. This has promoted the use of biofilms as an alternative to overcome the limitations of traditional planktonic systems. In this paper, the benefits and challenges of biofilm fermentations are reviewed with a focus on the production of low-value bulk chemicals and fuels from waste biomass. Our study demonstrates that biofilm fermentations can potentially improve productivities and product yields by increasing biomass retention and allowing for continuous operation at high dilution rates. Furthermore, we show that biofilms can tolerate hazardous environments, which improve the conversion of crude biomass under substrate and product inhibitory conditions. Additionally, we present examples for the improved conversion of pure and crude substrates into bulk chemicals by mixed microbial biofilms, which can benefit from microenvironments in biofilms for synergistic multi-species reactions, and improved resistance to contaminants. Finally, we suggest the use of mathematical models as useful tools to supplement experimental insights related to the effects of physico-chemical and biological phenomena on the process. Major challenges for biofilm fermentations arise from inconsistent fermentation performance, slow reactor start-up, biofilm carrier costs and carrier clogging, insufficient biofilm monitoring and process control, challenges in reactor sterilization and scale-up, and issues in recovering dilute products. The key to a successful commercialization of the technology is likely going to be an interdisciplinary approach. Crucial research areas might include genetic engineering combined with the development of specialized biofilm reactors, biofilm carrier development, in-situ biofilm monitoring, model-based process control, mixed microbial biofilm technology, development of suitable biofilm reactor scale-up criteria, and in-situ product recovery.
Topics: Biocatalysis; Biofilms; Biomass; Bioreactors; Fermentation; Models, Theoretical
PubMed: 33965529
DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2021.107766 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jan 2022Microbial biofilms are represented by sessile microbial communities with modified gene expression and phenotype, adhered to a surface and embedded in a matrix of... (Review)
Review
Microbial biofilms are represented by sessile microbial communities with modified gene expression and phenotype, adhered to a surface and embedded in a matrix of self-produced extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). Microbial biofilms can develop on both prosthetic devices and tissues, generating chronic and persistent infections that cannot be eradicated with classical organic-based antimicrobials, because of their increased tolerance to antimicrobials and the host immune system. Several complexes based mostly on 3D ions have shown promising potential for fighting biofilm-associated infections, due to their large spectrum antimicrobial and anti-biofilm activity. The literature usually reports species containing Mn(II), Ni(II), Co(II), Cu(II) or Zn(II) and a large variety of multidentate ligands with chelating properties such as antibiotics, Schiff bases, biguanides, N-based macrocyclic and fused rings derivatives. This review presents the progress in the development of such species and their anti-biofilm activity, as well as the contribution of biomaterials science to incorporate these complexes in composite platforms for reducing the negative impact of medical biofilms.
Topics: Animals; Anti-Infective Agents; Biocompatible Materials; Biofilms; Coordination Complexes; Extracellular Polymeric Substance Matrix; Humans; Infections; Schiff Bases
PubMed: 35164021
DOI: 10.3390/molecules27030758 -
Microbiological Research Dec 2022Microbial cells attached to inert or living surfaces adopt biofilm mode with self-produced exopolysaccharide matrix containing polysaccharides, proteins, and... (Review)
Review
Microbial cells attached to inert or living surfaces adopt biofilm mode with self-produced exopolysaccharide matrix containing polysaccharides, proteins, and extracellular DNA, for protection from adverse external stimuli. Biofilms in hospitals and industries serve as a breeding ground for drug-resistant pathogens and ARG enrichment that are linked to pathogenicity and also impede industrial production process. Biofilm formation, including virulence and pathogenicity, is regulated through quorum sensing (QS), a means of bacterial cell to cell communication for cooperative physiological processes. Hence, QS inhibition through quorum quenching (QQ) is a feasible approach to inhibit biofilm formation. In contrast, biofilms have beneficial roles in promoting plant growth, biocontrol, and wastewater treatment. Furthermore, polymicrobial biofilms can harbour novel compounds and species of industrial and pharmaceutical interest. Hence, surveillance of biofilm microbiome structure and functional attributes is crucial to determine the extent of the risk it poses and to harness its bioactive potential. One of the most preferred approaches to delineate the microbiome is culture-independent metagenomics. In this context, this review article explores the biofilm microbiome in built and natural settings such as agriculture, household appliances, wastewater treatment plants, hospitals, microplastics, and dental biofilm. We have also discussed the recent reports on discoveries of novel QS and biofilm inhibitors through conventional, metagenomics, and machine learning approaches. Finally, we present biofilm-derived novel metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs), genomes, and taxa of medical and industrial interest.
Topics: Biofilms; Metagenome; Metagenomics; Microplastics; Pharmaceutical Preparations; Plastics; Quorum Sensing
PubMed: 36194989
DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2022.127207