How well are we translating biofilm research from bench-side to bedside?

Abstract

Biofilms are responsible for more than 80% of all chronic infections and represent an enormous medical challenge. In order to meet this challenge, translation research on anti-biofilm approaches is desperately needed. While biofilm research has grown exponentially over the last three decades and provided important details about the mechanisms involved in initiating, maintaining and disrupting bacterial communities, how much of this basic science knowledge has resulted in new therapeutic approaches? In this perspective article biofilm publications, patents, clinical trials and companies were surveyed to ascertain where we stand in translating biofilm research into new strategies to treat and prevent biofilm-associated infections. Overall, the survey data obtained indicate that anti-biofilm research makes up a very small percentage of the total biofilm literature, and the number of patents and clinical studies for anti-biofilm agents is relatively small. However, the forecast for the future of anti-biofilm therapeutics looks promising. Publications on translational studies are trending up and there are a large number of companies selling products marketed to fight biofilm, indicating that there is a significant commercial interest. Researchers can aid in the translational effort by collaborating with clinicians and industry to design and execute clinically relevant pre-clinical studies, which will result in more agents successfully completing clinical studies and entering the market.

Keywords: Anti-Biofilm; Biofilm; Biofilm infection; Translational research.

Fig. 1

Overview of the biofilm and anti-biofilm literature. Search queries were performed in Pubmed using key terms to assess the magnitude of the biofilm and anti-biofilm literature over time (A) and the major areas of disease and infection these studies address (B).

Fig. 2

Overview of biofilm-related patents. Search queries were performed in United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) patent database using key terms to assess the magnitude of the biofilm and anti-biofilm patents over time.

Fig. 3

Biofilm-related clinical studies registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. Studies are shown by type (A), stage (B), funding type (C), and location (D).