Biofilms: Architecture, Resistance, Quorum Sensing and Control Mechanisms
Open accessAbstract
Biofilm is a mode of living employed by many pathogenic and environmental microbes to proliferate as multicellular aggregates on inert inanimate or biological substrates. Several microbial diseases are associated with biofilms that pose challenges in treatment with antibiotics targeting individual cells. Bacteria in biofilms secrete exopolymeric substances that contribute to architectural stability and provide a secure niche to inhabiting cells. Quorum sensing (QS) plays essential roles in biofilm development. Pathogenic bacteria in biofilms utilize QS mechanisms to activate virulence and develop antibiotic resistance. This review is a brief overview of biofilm research and provides updates on recent understandings on biofilm development, antibiotic resistance and transmission, and importance of QS mechanisms. Strategies to combat biofilm associated diseases including anti-biofilm substances, quorum quenching molecules, bio-surfactants and competitive inhibitors are briefly discussed. The review concludes with updates on recent approaches utilized for biofilm inhibition and provides perspectives for further research in the field.
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Other strategies employed for the treatment of biofilms include antimicrobial peptides (AMP), bio-surfactants (rhamnolipid), phage particles, cheat cells, and different EPS-disrupting enzymes.
“Other strategies employed for the treatment of biofilms include the use of antimicrobial peptides (AMP), bio-surfactants (rhamnolipid), phage particles, cheat cells, and different EPS-disrupting enzymes74.”
From Recent advances in the pathogenesis and prevention strategies of dental calculus (2024) · cites this paper as [74]
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Recent advances in the pathogenesis and prevention strategies of dental calculus
Wei, Y., Dang, G.-P., Ren, Z.-Y., Wan, M.-C., Wang, C.-Y., Li, H.-B., Zhang, T., Tay, F. R., & Niu, L.-N. (2024) · npj Biofilms and Microbiomes · doi:10.1038/s41522-024-00529-1 · Cited by 43 · see citing works
- Authors
- Saxena, P., Joshi, Y., Rawat, K., & Bisht, R.
- Affiliations
- South Asian University (IN)
- Corresponding author
- Saxena, Priti
- Venue
- Indian Journal of Microbiology
- Published
- 2018-08-21
- Volume
- 59
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 3-12
- ISSN
- 0046-8991 (ISSN-L)
- 0973-7715
- PMC
- PMC6328408
- OpenAlex
- W2888286625
- Cited by
- 216
- References
- 76
- Citations by year
- 2026: 14 · 2025: 25 · 2024: 32 · 2023: 37 · 2022: 38 · 2021: 36 · 2020: 26 · 2019: 7
- FWCI
- 1.69
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Indian Journal of Microbiology (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- South Asian University, New Delhi, India (SAU Startup Grant)
- Department of Biotechnology , Ministry of Science and Technology (IYBA2008)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Bacterial biofilms and quorum sensing
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Ocean Engineering › Marine Biology and Environmental Chemistry
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Engineering › Microbial Fuel Cells and Bioremediation
- Keywords
- biofilm, biofilm structure, antibiotic resistance, quorum sensing, exopolysaccharides, virulence, biofilm-associated diseases, antibiofilm agents, quorum sensing inhibition, biosurfactants, competitive inhibitors, biofilm inhibition
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