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Anti-virulent Disruption of Pathogenic Biofilms using Engineered Quorum-quenching Lactonases
Published on: January 1, 2016
[Foreign body infections--biofilms and quorum sensing]
Niels Høiby1, Helle Krogh Johansen, Oana Ciofu
1Rigshospitalet, Klinisk Mikrobiologisk Afdeling, Institut for International Sundhed, Medicinsk Mikrobiologi og Immunologi, København Ø. hoiby@dadlnet.dk
Ugeskrift for Laeger
|January 24, 2008
Summary
Biofilms, bacterial communities protected by a matrix, cause persistent infections and resist treatment. Disrupting bacterial communication (quorum sensing) can make biofilms vulnerable to antibiotics and immune responses.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Biofilms are bacterial communities encased in a self-produced matrix.
- These structured consortia exhibit high resistance to antibiotics, disinfectants, and host immune defenses (phagocytosis).
- Biofilms are implicated in the persistence of foreign body infections and chronic conditions, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infections in cystic fibrosis patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the challenges posed by bacterial biofilms in infectious diseases.
- To explain the role of quorum sensing in biofilm virulence.
- To explore strategies for combating biofilm-related infections.
Main Methods:
- Review of biofilm structure and resistance mechanisms.
- Analysis of quorum sensing pathways in bacterial communication.
- Evaluation of therapeutic strategies targeting biofilms.
Main Results:
- Biofilms provide a protective niche, conferring resistance to antimicrobial agents and host defenses.
- Quorum sensing regulates the expression of virulence factors within biofilms.
- Targeting quorum sensing can re-sensitize biofilms to antibiotics and phagocytosis.
Conclusions:
- Biofilms represent a significant challenge in treating persistent bacterial infections.
- Interfering with quorum sensing is a promising strategy to overcome biofilm-mediated resistance.
- Combined approaches, including quorum sensing inhibitors and conventional therapies, may enhance treatment efficacy.
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