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Updated: Feb 9, 2026
11:17
A Semi-quantitative Approach to Assess Biofilm Formation Using Wrinkled Colony Development
Published on: June 7, 2012
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Biofilm formation - what we can learn from recent developments
T Bjarnsholt1,2, K Buhlin3, Y F Dufrêne4
1Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Costerton Biofilm Centre, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Journal of Internal Medicine
|June 2, 2018
Summary
Biofilm infections, prevalent in human disease, pose treatment challenges. Novel strategies targeting biofilm structure and interkingdom signaling offer new therapeutic avenues.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Biofilms contribute to up to 80% of human microbial infections, linked to chronic conditions like diabetes, poor dental hygiene, and medical implants.
- Chronic biofilm infections, including wound infections, dental caries, and periodontitis, increase morbidity, reduce quality of life, and may promote secondary diseases like cancer.
Framework:
- Antibiotic monotherapy is often insufficient for biofilm infections.
- Rediscovered traditional compounds show potential efficacy against biofilms.
- Innovative strategies include anti-biofilm small molecules, reactive molecule stimulation, antimicrobial materials, and extracellular matrix digestion.
Implementation:
- Biofilm dispersion can be achieved by digesting the extracellular matrix, potentially combined with physical disruption.
- Emerging research is beginning to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of biofilm formation and structural organization.
- Discovery of cyclic dinucleotide second messengers involved in interkingdom signaling via mammalian receptors.
Implications:
- Understanding biofilm physiology reveals new therapeutic targets.
- Novel anti-biofilm strategies are being explored based on these fundamental discoveries.
- This research opens new avenues for combating challenging biofilm-associated infections.
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