Bacterial and fungal biofilm extracellular matrix components

Biofilm extracellular matrix components are the heterogeneous, self-produced materials forming the scaffold and protective environment for bacterial and fungal cells in a biofilm. The main constituents are exopolysaccharides, extracellular proteins (including structural fibers and enzymes), extracellular DNA, lipids, and water, with the composition varying by species and environmental context. These components collectively promote adhesion to surfaces and between cells, enable complex cell signaling (such as quorum sensing), provide strong resistance to antibiotics and host defenses, create distinct microenvironments within the biofilm mass, and contribute to the persistent and often recalcitrant nature of biofilm-associated infections. Although several drugs and enzymatic therapies that target biofilm components are under investigation, biofilm matrix is not a singular molecular entity but a functional composite; thus, it is best seen as a multifaceted therapeutic challenge rather than a classic target like an enzyme or receptor.

Other names

Biofilm ECMMicrobial biofilm matrixBiofilm extracellular polymeric substances (EPS)Bacterial biofilm componentsFungal biofilm components

Disrupting biofilm matrix integrity (e.g., enzymatic degradation of EPS, DNase treatment)\nInhibiting matrix biosynthesis (e.g., blocking exopolysaccharide synthesis)\nInhibiting cell adhesion or quorum sensing\nDirect antimicrobial activity enhanced via biofilm dispersal\nIncreasing matrix permeability to antibiotics