Gut polymicrobial biofilms and starch-based extracellular matrix

Gut polymicrobial biofilms and their starch-based extracellular matrix represent a critical pathological feature in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), particularly Crohn's disease. These biofilms are complex communities of bacteria, such as Adherent-Invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC), that adhere to the intestinal mucosa and are encased in a protective scaffold of extracellular polymeric substances. Recent research has highlighted that common starch-based food additives, specifically maltodextrin (MDX), significantly promote the formation and structural integrity of these biofilms by serving as a substrate for the expansion of the extracellular matrix. This starch-rich matrix protects pathogenic bacteria from host immune responses and antibiotic treatment, facilitating chronic inflammation and mucosal damage. Therapeutic strategies targeting this system include the use of matrix-degrading enzymes like amylase to dissolve the protective scaffold, the development of maltodextrin-conjugated agents for bacteria-specific drug delivery, and dietary interventions to reduce maltodextrin intake. Understanding the interaction between dietary starches and the gut biofilm matrix is essential for developing novel treatments that can disrupt these persistent microbial reservoirs and restore gut homeostasis.

Other names

Maltodextrin-induced gut biofilmsMDX-enhanced biofilmsStarch-associated gut biofilmsPathological gut biofilmsPolysaccharide-rich gut biofilm matrix

Enzymatic degradation of the polysaccharide matrix, inhibition of bacterial adhesion via FimH antagonism, competitive exclusion by probiotics, and targeted delivery via maltodextrin transporters.