Alginate exopolysaccharide (None (commonly referred to simply “alginate”; no widely accepted abbreviation specifically for the exopolysaccharide form))

Alginate exopolysaccharide refers to a family of anionic, high-molecular-weight polysaccharides primarily composed of β-D-mannuronic acid and α-L-guluronic acid, produced by certain bacteria (notably Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Azotobacter species) and brown algae. In bacteria such as P. aeruginosa, alginate is a major component of the biofilm matrix, where it provides structural support, protection against environmental stressors, and resistance to host immune responses and antimicrobials—particularly in chronic lung infections seen in cystic fibrosis patients. Alginate production in bacteria is regulated genetically and can be linked with increased virulence and the establishment of chronic infections. The polymer's physical properties depend on the ratios and arrangement of mannuronic and guluronic acid residues, which influence gel formation, viscosity, and elasticity. Alginate is widely used industrially as a gelling agent and in biomedical applications due to its biocompatibility; in infection biology, it is an attractive candidate for antibiofilm interventions, typically via enzymatic degradation rather than conventional receptor- or enzyme-targeting drugs.

Other names

AlginateAlginate-like exopolysaccharide (ALE)Bacterial alginateExopolysaccharide alginatePoly(β-D-mannuronate-co-α-L-guluronate)

Alginate lyases cleave alginate, leading to biofilm dispersal and increased susceptibility of bacteria to antimicrobials Agents targeting alginate may reduce biofilm-related resistance and virulence Some antibiotics may have improved efficacy in combination with alginate-disrupting strategies, though alginate is not the direct target of conventional drugs