Feature Reviews on Antibiofilm Strategies

A special issue of Antibiotics (ISSN 2079-6382). This special issue belongs to the section "Antibiofilm Strategies".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2023) | Viewed by 9716

Special Issue Editor

Department of Health Cluster/ Nanomedicine, INL - International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
Interests: antibacterial resistance; biofilm control; nosocomial pathogens; bacteriophages; antibiotic alternatives
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Pathogens colonize and reside in biofilms, where they live surrounded by a polymeric matrix that protects them from different physical, chemical and biological stresses. The colonization of biological tissues and non-living surfaces is classically the root of persistent and medical-device-related infections, and is too often the leading cause of the failure of antimicrobial therapies.

This Special Issue seeks review contributions on antibiofilm strategies. We kindly invite and encourage all research groups covering various antibiofilm strategies to contribute to this Special Issue of featured reviews.

Dr. Sanna Maria Sillankorva
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Antibiotics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biofilms
  • antibiofilm molecules
  • antimicrobial peptides
  • bacteriophages
  • endolysins
  • phytochemicals
  • biosurfactants
  • EPS-targeted strategies
  • quorum sensing targeted strategies
  • combined therapies

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Review

31 pages, 2087 KiB  
Review
The Role of Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci Biofilms on Late-Onset Sepsis: Current Challenges and Emerging Diagnostics and Therapies
by Angela França
Antibiotics 2023, 12(3), 554; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics12030554 - 10 Mar 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4033
Abstract
Infections are one of the most significant complications of neonates, especially those born preterm, with sepsis as one of the principal causes of mortality. Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS), a group of staphylococcal species that naturally inhabit healthy human skin and mucosa, are the most [...] Read more.
Infections are one of the most significant complications of neonates, especially those born preterm, with sepsis as one of the principal causes of mortality. Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS), a group of staphylococcal species that naturally inhabit healthy human skin and mucosa, are the most common cause of late-onset sepsis, especially in preterms. One of the risk factors for the development of CoNS infections is the presence of implanted biomedical devices, which are frequently used for medications and/or nutrient delivery, as they serve as a scaffold for biofilm formation. The major concerns related to CoNS infections have to do with the increasing resistance to multiple antibiotics observed among this bacterial group and biofilm cells’ increased tolerance to antibiotics. As such, the treatment of CoNS biofilm-associated infections with antibiotics is increasingly challenging and considering that antibiotics remain the primary form of treatment, this issue will likely persist in upcoming years. For that reason, the development of innovative and efficient therapeutic measures is of utmost importance. This narrative review assesses the current challenges and emerging diagnostic tools and therapies for the treatment of CoNS biofilm-associated infections, with a special focus on late-onset sepsis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Reviews on Antibiofilm Strategies)
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18 pages, 3130 KiB  
Review
Nanomaterials and Coatings for Managing Antibiotic-Resistant Biofilms
by Guillem Ferreres, Kristina Ivanova, Ivan Ivanov and Tzanko Tzanov
Antibiotics 2023, 12(2), 310; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics12020310 - 02 Feb 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1966
Abstract
Biofilms are a global health concern responsible for 65 to 80% of the total number of acute and persistent nosocomial infections, which lead to prolonged hospitalization and a huge economic burden to the healthcare systems. Biofilms are organized assemblages of surface-bound cells, which [...] Read more.
Biofilms are a global health concern responsible for 65 to 80% of the total number of acute and persistent nosocomial infections, which lead to prolonged hospitalization and a huge economic burden to the healthcare systems. Biofilms are organized assemblages of surface-bound cells, which are enclosed in a self-produced extracellular polymer matrix (EPM) of polysaccharides, nucleic acids, lipids, and proteins. The EPM holds the pathogens together and provides a functional environment, enabling adhesion to living and non-living surfaces, mechanical stability, next to enhanced tolerance to host immune responses and conventional antibiotics compared to free-floating cells. Furthermore, the close proximity of cells in biofilms facilitates the horizontal transfer of genes, which is responsible for the development of antibiotic resistance. Given the growing number and impact of resistant bacteria, there is an urgent need to design novel strategies in order to outsmart bacterial evolutionary mechanisms. Antibiotic-free approaches that attenuate virulence through interruption of quorum sensing, prevent adhesion via EPM degradation, or kill pathogens by novel mechanisms that are less likely to cause resistance have gained considerable attention in the war against biofilm infections. Thereby, nanoformulation offers significant advantages due to the enhanced antibacterial efficacy and better penetration into the biofilm compared to bulk therapeutics of the same composition. This review highlights the latest developments in the field of nanoformulated quorum-quenching actives, antiadhesives, and bactericides, and their use as colloid suspensions and coatings on medical devices to reduce the incidence of biofilm-related infections. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Reviews on Antibiofilm Strategies)
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18 pages, 1850 KiB  
Review
Antifouling Performance of Carbon-Based Coatings for Marine Applications: A Systematic Review
by Francisca Sousa-Cardoso, Rita Teixeira-Santos and Filipe J. M. Mergulhão
Antibiotics 2022, 11(8), 1102; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics11081102 - 14 Aug 2022
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3316
Abstract
Although carbon materials are widely used in surface engineering, particularly graphene (GP) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs), the application of these nanocomposites for the development of antibiofilm marine surfaces is still poorly documented. The aim of this study was, thus, to gather and discuss [...] Read more.
Although carbon materials are widely used in surface engineering, particularly graphene (GP) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs), the application of these nanocomposites for the development of antibiofilm marine surfaces is still poorly documented. The aim of this study was, thus, to gather and discuss the relevant literature concerning the antifouling performance of carbon-based coatings against marine micro- and macrofoulers. For this purpose, a PRISMA-oriented systematic review was conducted based on predefined criteria, which resulted in the selection of thirty studies for a qualitative synthesis. In addition, the retrieved publications were subjected to a quality assessment process based on an adapted Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies (MINORS) scale. In general, this review demonstrated the promising antifouling performance of these carbon nanomaterials in marine environments. Further, results from the revised studies suggested that functionalized GP- and CNTs-based marine coatings exhibited improved antifouling performance compared to these materials in pristine forms. Thanks to their high self-cleaning and enhanced antimicrobial properties, as well as durability, these functionalized composites showed outstanding results in protecting submerged surfaces from the settlement of fouling organisms in marine settings. Overall, these findings can pave the way for the development of new carbon-engineered surfaces capable of preventing marine biofouling. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Reviews on Antibiofilm Strategies)
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