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Pathogens
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Bacterial Biofilm Infections and Treatment
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Bacterial Biofilm Infections and Treatment

A special issue of Pathogens (ISSN 2076-0817). This special issue belongs to the section "Bacterial Pathogens".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 December 2023) | Viewed by 12627

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Songlin Chua

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Interests: biofilms; infection; antibiotic tolerance; antibiofilm agents

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Biofilms are responsible for most microbial infections in the human body because of their ability to evade detection, resist immune attack and withstand antimicrobial treatment. Despite the enormous efforts of academic researchers, clinicians and industry in recent years, many biofilm pathogenesis mechanisms remain unanswered. Hence, it is imperative to develop new strategies to control biofilm infections. This Special Issue plans to give an overview of the most recent advances in biofilm research, and aims to present selected contributions on biofilm infections, antimicrobial tolerance and the development of antibiofilm agents. Potential topics include, but are not limited to: biofilm pathogenesis; biofilm mechanisms, including c-di-GMP signaling and quorum sensing; host–biofilm interactions; biofilm tolerance to antimicrobials; the detection of biofilm infections; the role of biofilms in clinical settings; the discovery and evaluation of antibiofilm agents, including quorum-sensing inhibitors and biofilm-degrading enzymes; antibiofilm chemotherapy in clinical settings; and future perspectives of biofilm infections and chemotherapy. We welcome the submission of original research articles, communications, or reviews focused on the mechanisms of biofilm pathogenesis or novel compounds intended to mitigate it. All submitted papers will undergo a standard independent peer-review process.

Dr. Songlin Chua
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. Pathogens 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 2700 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
  • infection
  • antibiotic tolerance
  • antibiofilm agents
  • treatment

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 3185 KiB  
Article
Prodigiosin as an Antibiofilm Agent against the Bacterial Biofilm-Associated Infection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
by Zhiwen Ma, Hong Xiao, Hailin Li, Xiaoling Lu, Jing Yan, Hao Nie and Qi Yin
Pathogens 2024, 13(2), 145; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13020145 - 05 Feb 2024
Viewed by 903
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is known to generate bacterial biofilms that increase antibiotic resistance. With the increase of multi-drug resistance in recent years, the formulation of a new therapeutic strategy has seemed urgent. Preliminary findings show that Prodigiosin (PG), derived from chromium-resistant Serratia marcescens, [...] Read more.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is known to generate bacterial biofilms that increase antibiotic resistance. With the increase of multi-drug resistance in recent years, the formulation of a new therapeutic strategy has seemed urgent. Preliminary findings show that Prodigiosin (PG), derived from chromium-resistant Serratia marcescens, exhibited efficient anti-biofilm activity against Staphylococcus aureus. However, its anti-biofilm activity against P. aeruginosa remains largely unexplored. The anti-biofilm activity of PG against three clinical single drug-resistant P. aeruginosa was evaluated using crystal violet staining, and the viability of biofilms and planktonic cells were also assessed. A model of chronic lung infection was constructed to test the in vivo antibiofilm activity of PG. The results showed that PG inhibited biofilm formation and effectively inhibited the production of pyocyanin and extracellular polysaccharides in vitro, as well as moderated the expression of interleukins (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) in vivo, which might be attributed to the downregulation of biofilm-related genes such as algA, pelA, and pslM. These findings suggest that PG could be a potential treatment for drug-resistant P aeruginosa and chronic biofilm infections. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bacterial Biofilm Infections and Treatment)
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10 pages, 1842 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Activity of Rice Husk Extract against Staphylococcus aureus
by Gloria Burlacchini, Angela Sandri, Adele Papetti, Ilaria Frosi, Federico Boschi, Maria M. Lleo and Caterina Signoretto
Pathogens 2024, 13(1), 80; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13010080 - 16 Jan 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1293
Abstract
Infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus are particularly difficult to treat due to the high rate of antibiotic resistance. S. aureus also forms biofilms that reduce the effects of antibiotics and disinfectants. Therefore, new therapeutic approaches are increasingly required. In this scenario, plant waste [...] Read more.
Infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus are particularly difficult to treat due to the high rate of antibiotic resistance. S. aureus also forms biofilms that reduce the effects of antibiotics and disinfectants. Therefore, new therapeutic approaches are increasingly required. In this scenario, plant waste products represent a source of bioactive molecules. In this study, we evaluated the antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity of the rice husk extract (RHE) on S. aureus clinical isolates. In a biofilm inhibition assay, high concentrations of RHE counteracted the formation of biofilm by S. aureus isolates, both methicillin-resistant (MRSA) and -sensitive (MSSA). The observation of the MRSA biofilm by confocal laser scanning microscopy using live/dead cell viability staining confirmed that the bacterial viability in the RHE-treated biofilm was reduced. However, the extract showed no or little biofilm disaggregation ability. An additive effect was observed when treating S. aureus with a combination of RHE and oxacillin/cefoxitin. In Galleria mellonella larvae treated with RHE, the extract showed no toxicity even at high concentrations. Our results support that the rice husk has antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties and could potentially be used in the future in topical solutions or on medical devices to prevent biofilm formation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bacterial Biofilm Infections and Treatment)
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19 pages, 2903 KiB  
Article
A Novel Inhibitor against the Biofilms of Non-Tuberculous Mycobacteria
by Parvinder Kaur, Ramya Vadageri Krishnamurthy, Radha Krishan Shandil, Rahul Mohan and Shridhar Narayanan
Pathogens 2024, 13(1), 40; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13010040 - 31 Dec 2023
Viewed by 1213
Abstract
Non-tuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM), previously classified as environmental microbes, have emerged as opportunistic pathogens causing pulmonary infections in immunocompromised hosts. The formation of the biofilm empowers NTM pathogens to escape from the immune response and antibiotic action, leading to treatment failures. NF1001 is a [...] Read more.
Non-tuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM), previously classified as environmental microbes, have emerged as opportunistic pathogens causing pulmonary infections in immunocompromised hosts. The formation of the biofilm empowers NTM pathogens to escape from the immune response and antibiotic action, leading to treatment failures. NF1001 is a novel thiopeptide antibiotic first-in-class compound with potent activity against planktonic/replicating and biofilm forms of various NTM species. It is potent against both drug-sensitive and -resistant NTM. It has demonstrated a concentration-dependent killing of replicating and intracellularly growing NTM, and has inhibited and reduced the viability of NTM in biofilms. Combination studies using standard-of-care (SoC) drugs for NTM exhibited synergetic/additive effects, but no antagonism against both planktonic and biofilm populations of Mycobacterium abscessus and Mycobacterium avium. In summary, the activity of NF1001 alone or in combination with SoC drugs projects NF1001 as a promising candidate for the treatment of difficult-to-treat NTM pulmonary diseases (NTM-PD) and cystic fibrosis (CF) in patients. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bacterial Biofilm Infections and Treatment)
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14 pages, 1591 KiB  
Article
Role of Microbial Interactions across Food-Related Bacteria on Biofilm Population and Biofilm Decontamination by a TiO2-Nanoparticle-Based Surfactant
by Agapi I. Doulgeraki, Christina S. Kamarinou, George-John E. Nychas, Anthoula A. Argyri, Chrysoula C. Tassou, Georgios Moulas and Nikos Chorianopoulos
Pathogens 2023, 12(4), 573; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12040573 - 07 Apr 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1236
Abstract
Microbial interactions play an important role in initial cell adhesion and the endurance of biofilm toward disinfectant stresses. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of microbial interactions on biofilm formation and the disinfecting activity of an innovative photocatalytic surfactant based on [...] Read more.
Microbial interactions play an important role in initial cell adhesion and the endurance of biofilm toward disinfectant stresses. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of microbial interactions on biofilm formation and the disinfecting activity of an innovative photocatalytic surfactant based on TiO2 nanoparticles. Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella Enteritidis, Escherichia coli, Leuconostoc spp., Latilactobacillus sakei, Serratia liquefaciens, Serratia proteomaculans, Citrobacter freundii, Hafnia alvei, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas fragi, and Brochothrix thermosphacta left to form mono- or dual-species biofilms on stainless steel (SS) coupons. The effectiveness of the photocatalytic disinfectant after 2 h of exposure under UV light on biofilm decontamination was evaluated. The effect of one parameter i.e., exposure to UV or disinfectant, was also determined. According to the obtained results, the microbial load of a mature biofilm depended on the different species or dual species that had adhered to the surface, while the presence of other species could affect the biofilm population of a specific microbe (p < 0.05). The disinfectant strengthened the antimicrobial activity of UV, as, in most cases, the remaining biofilm population was below the detection limit of the method. Moreover, the presence of more than one species affected the resistance of the biofilm cells to UV and the disinfectant (p < 0.05). In conclusion, this study confirms that microbial interactions affected biofilm formation and decontamination, and it demonstrates the effectiveness of the surfactant with the photocatalytic TiO2 agent, suggesting that it could be an alternative agent with which to disinfect contaminated surfaces. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bacterial Biofilm Infections and Treatment)
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15 pages, 3194 KiB  
Article
A Synthetic Polymicrobial Community Biofilm Model Demonstrates Spatial Partitioning, Tolerance to Antimicrobial Treatment, Reduced Metabolism, and Small Colony Variants Typical of Chronic Wound Biofilms
by Ammara Khalid, Alan R. Cookson, David E. Whitworth, Michael L. Beeton, Lori I. Robins and Sarah E. Maddocks
Pathogens 2023, 12(1), 118; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12010118 - 10 Jan 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1637
Abstract
Understanding chronic wound infection is key for successful treatment and requires accurate laboratory models. We describe a modified biofilm flow device that effectively mimics the chronic wound environment, including simulated wound fluid, a collagen-based 3D biofilm matrix, and a five-species mixture of clinically [...] Read more.
Understanding chronic wound infection is key for successful treatment and requires accurate laboratory models. We describe a modified biofilm flow device that effectively mimics the chronic wound environment, including simulated wound fluid, a collagen-based 3D biofilm matrix, and a five-species mixture of clinically relevant bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, and Citrobacter freundii). Mixed biofilms were cultured for between 3 and 14 days with consistent numbers of bacteria that exhibited reduced metabolic activity, which increased with a high dose of glucose. S. aureus was recovered from biofilms as a small colony variant, but as a normal colony variant if P. aeruginosa was excluded from the system. Bacteria within the biofilm did not co-aggregate but formed discrete, species-specific clusters. Biofilms demonstrated differential tolerance to the topical antimicrobials Neosporin and HOCl, consistent with protection due to the biofilm lifestyle. The characteristics exhibited within this model match those of real-world wound biofilms, reflecting the clinical scenario and yielding a powerful in vitro tool that is versatile, inexpensive, and pivotal for understanding chronic wound infection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bacterial Biofilm Infections and Treatment)
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17 pages, 5157 KiB  
Article
Isolation, Partial Characterization and Application of Bacteriophages in Eradicating Biofilm Formation by Bacillus cereus on Stainless Steel Surfaces in Food Processing Facilities
by Maroua Gdoura-Ben Amor, Antoine Culot, Clarisse Techer, Mousa AlReshidi, Mohd Adnan, Sophie Jan, Florence Baron, Noël Grosset, Mejdi Snoussi, Radhouane Gdoura and Michel Gautier
Pathogens 2022, 11(8), 872; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens11080872 - 02 Aug 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4681
Abstract
The Bacillus cereus (B. cereus) group is a widespread foodborne pathogen with a persistent ability to form biofilm, and with inherent resistance to traditional treatment in the food industry. Bacteriophages are a promising biocontrol agent that could be applied to prevent [...] Read more.
The Bacillus cereus (B. cereus) group is a widespread foodborne pathogen with a persistent ability to form biofilm, and with inherent resistance to traditional treatment in the food industry. Bacteriophages are a promising biocontrol agent that could be applied to prevent or eliminate biofilms formation. We have described, in this study, the isolation from sewage samples and preliminary characterization of bacteriophages that are active against the B. cereus group. The effectiveness of phage treatment for reducing B. cereus attachment and biofilms on stainless steel surfaces has been also assessed using three incubation periods at different titrations of each phage. Out of 62 phages isolated, seven showed broad-spectrum lytic action against 174 B. cereus isolates. All selected phages appeared to be of the Siphoviridae family. SDS-PAGE proved that two phages have a similar profile, while the remainder are distinct. All isolated phages have the same restriction pattern, with an estimated genome size of around 37 kb. The isolated bacteriophages have been shown to be effective in preventing biofilm formation. Reductions of up to 1.5 log10 UFC/cm2 have been achieved, compared to the untreated biofilms. Curative treatment reduced the bacterial density by 0.5 log10 UFC/cm2. These results support the prospect of using these phages as a potential alternative strategy for controlling biofilms in food systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bacterial Biofilm Infections and Treatment)
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