Bacterial cells and biofilms

Bacterial cells are prokaryotic microorganisms that can exist as individual planktonic cells or within complex, surface-attached communities known as biofilms. Biofilms are characterized by a self-produced extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) matrix composed of polysaccharides, proteins, and DNA, which shields the bacteria from host immune responses and increases antibiotic tolerance by up to 1,000-fold (Donlan & Costerton, 2002, Clinical Microbiology Reviews). These structures are central to the pathogenesis of chronic infections, particularly those involving medical devices, chronic wounds, and respiratory tracts in cystic fibrosis patients (Hall-Stoodley et al., 2004, Nature Reviews Microbiology). Therapeutic intervention focuses on either killing the constituent cells using traditional antibiotics or disrupting the biofilm architecture to restore drug sensitivity (Flemming et al., 2016, Nature Reviews Microbiology). Modern approaches also target quorum sensing pathways to prevent biofilm formation and promote the transition back to a more susceptible planktonic state (Wu et al., 2020, Journal of Biomedical Science). This entry is marked as incorrect because it represents a broad biological entity and a complex multicellular structure rather than a specific molecular target, receptor, or enzyme.

Other names

Microbial biofilmsBacterial communitiesSessile bacteriaPlanktonic bacteriaExtracellular polymeric substance (EPS) matrix

Drugs targeting bacterial cells and biofilms act through various mechanisms, including the inhibition of cell wall synthesis (e.g., beta-lactams), disruption of protein synthesis (e.g., aminoglycosides), interference with DNA replication (e.g., fluoroquinolones), and the enzymatic degradation of the extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) matrix (e.g., DNases) to promote bacterial dispersal and antibiotic penetration (StatPearls, 2023; Nature Reviews Microbiology, 2017).