Bacterial biofilm (respiratory tract pathogen)

The term bacterial biofilm (respiratory tract pathogen) refers to the organized multicellular communities of pathogenic bacteria embedded in a self-produced extracellular matrix, adhering to surfaces in the airway. Biofilms in the respiratory tract—particularly in chronic diseases like cystic fibrosis—lead to persistent and recurrent infections due to their substantial resistance to antibiotics and host immune responses. The biofilm matrix, composed of exopolysaccharides (like alginate), proteins, and extracellular DNA, shields bacteria from clearance and fosters horizontal gene transfer, contributing to antimicrobial resistance. Established biofilms pose significant therapeutic challenges, and strategies to disrupt them include enzymatic matrix degradation, inhibition of quorum sensing, and use of drugs targeting biofilm-specific physiological states. This entity is not a single molecular target (e.g., receptor, enzyme) but a complex, collective structure and process; thus, it is best regarded as a therapeutic target class or phenotype rather than a specific molecule[1][2][3][4][5][6].

Other names

bacterial biofilmrespiratory biofilmairway biofilmmicrobial biofilm

Enzymatic degradation of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) to disperse biofilm Inhibitors of quorum sensing to prevent biofilm formation Antibiotics targeting dormant and metabolically active cells within biofilm Surfactants or chelators to disrupt biofilm matrix