Novel Strategies to Combat Bacterial Biofilms

Mol Biotechnol. 2021 Jul;63(7):569-586. doi: 10.1007/s12033-021-00325-8. Epub 2021 Apr 29.

Abstract

Biofilms are considered as a severe problem in the treatment of bacterial infections; their development causes some noticeable resistance to antibacterial agents. Biofilms are responsible for at least two-thirds of all infections, displaying promoted resistance to classical antibiotic treatments. Therefore, finding new alternative therapeutic approaches is essential for the treatment and inhibition of biofilm-related infections. Therefore, this review aims to describe the potential therapeutic strategies that can inhibit bacterial biofilm development; these include the usage of antiadhesion agents, AMPs, bacteriophages, QSIs, aptamers, NPs and PNAs, which can prevent or eradicate the formation of biofilms. These antibiofilm agents represent a promising therapeutic target in the treatment of biofilm infections and development of a strong capability to interfere with different phases of the biofilm development, including adherence, polysaccharide intercellular adhesion (PIA), quorum sensing molecules and cell-to-cell connection, bacterial aggregation, planktonic bacteria killing and host-immune response modulation. In addition, these components, in combination with antibiotics, can lead to the development of some kind of powerful combined therapy against bacterial biofilm-related infections.

Keywords: Antibiofilm agents; Biofilm; Biofilm-related infections; Therapeutic approaches.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Bacteria / drug effects
  • Bacteria / growth & development*
  • Bacterial Adhesion / drug effects
  • Bacterial Infections / drug therapy*
  • Bacterial Infections / microbiology
  • Biofilms / drug effects
  • Biofilms / growth & development
  • Humans
  • Quorum Sensing / drug effects

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents