Natural Strategies as Potential Weapons against Bacterial Biofilms

Abstract

Microbial biofilm is an aggregation of microbial species that are either attached to surfaces or organized into an extracellular matrix. Microbes in the form of biofilms are highly resistant to several antimicrobials compared to planktonic microbial cells. Their resistance developing ability is one of the major root causes of antibiotic resistance in health sectors. Therefore, effective antibiofilm compounds are required to treat biofilm-associated health issues. The awareness of biofilm properties, formation, and resistance mechanisms facilitate researchers to design and develop combating strategies. This review highlights biofilm formation, composition, major stability parameters, resistance mechanisms, pathogenicity, combating strategies, and effective biofilm-controlling compounds. The naturally derived products, particularly plants, have demonstrated significant medicinal properties, producing them a practical approach for controlling biofilm-producing microbes. Despite providing effective antibiofilm activities, the plant-derived antimicrobial compounds may face the limitations of less bioavailability and low concentration of bioactive molecules. The microbes-derived and the phytonanotechnology-based antibiofilm compounds are emerging as an effective approach to inhibit and eliminate the biofilm-producing microbes.

Keywords: antimicrobial resistance; bee products; microbial biofilms; natural plants; phytonantechnology.

Figure 1

The development phases of biofilms.

Figure 2

Chemical structures of some signaling molecules.

Figure 3

The life cycle of biofilm formation provides different intervention points for biofilm inhibition and eradication.

Figure 4

Compounds that can inhibit biofilm formation.

Figure 5

Schematic illustration of the mode of action of the fusogenic liposome.

Figure 6

Chemical structures of some brominated alkylidene lactams.