Bacterial biofilm components

Bacterial biofilm components refer to the complex assembly of Extracellular Polymeric Substances (EPS) including polysaccharides, extracellular DNA (eDNA), proteins, and lipids that constitute the physical architecture of a biofilm. This matrix serves as a protective shield for the embedded microbial community, facilitating tolerance to environmental stressors, host immune responses, and antimicrobial agents (Flemming & Wingender, 2010, Nature Reviews Microbiology). Clinically, biofilms are responsible for the persistence of chronic infections, particularly on indwelling medical devices and in the airways of patients with cystic fibrosis (Costerton et al., 1999, Science). Therapeutic strategies targeting these components aim to destabilize the biofilm structure through enzymatic degradation or the inhibition of matrix production. For instance, Dornase alfa is used to cleave eDNA in the thick mucus of cystic fibrosis patients, thereby reducing the viscosity and integrity of the biofilm-associated matrix (Tetz et al., 2009, Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy). By disrupting the physical barrier of the EPS, these treatments increase the susceptibility of the constituent bacteria to the host's immune system and conventional antibiotic therapies.

Other names

Extracellular Polymeric SubstancesEPSBiofilm matrixBiofilm-associated extracellular matrixMicrobial extracellular matrix

Degradation of extracellular DNA (eDNA), hydrolysis of exopolysaccharides (e.g., alginate, PNAG), inhibition of quorum sensing, and physical disruption of the matrix to enhance antibiotic penetration and host immune access.