Microbial biofilm

Microbial biofilms are complex, multicellular communities of microorganisms embedded within a self-produced extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) matrix, which is composed of polysaccharides, proteins, and extracellular DNA [1, 2, 4]. This structural arrangement serves as a formidable protective barrier, allowing microbes to withstand environmental stressors, host immune defenses, and antimicrobial treatments [8, 11]. In clinical settings, biofilms are a leading cause of chronic and persistent infections, particularly those associated with indwelling medical devices such as catheters, heart valves, and orthopedic implants [10, 15]. The resistance of biofilm-encapsulated bacteria to antibiotics can be 100 to 1,000 times higher than that of their planktonic counterparts, necessitating novel therapeutic approaches [4, 6, 9]. Current drug development strategies target various stages of the biofilm life cycle, including initial adhesion, quorum sensing-mediated communication, and the integrity of the EPS matrix itself [1, 7, 14]. Disrupting these structures using matrix-degrading enzymes or signaling inhibitors can restore antibiotic susceptibility and aid in the clearance of recalcitrant infections [1, 2, 13].

Other names

Bacterial biofilmFungal biofilmExtracellular polymeric substance matrix (EPS matrix)Sessile microbial communityDental plaqueSlime layer

Degradation of the extracellular polymeric substance matrix, inhibition of quorum sensing (quorum quenching), prevention of initial bacterial adhesion, and enhancement of antimicrobial penetration through structural disruption [1, 2, 4, 6].