Journal
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
Volume 86, Issue 3, Pages 813-823Publisher
SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s00253-010-2468-8
Keywords
Biofilm formation and dispersal; Quorum sensing; c-di-GMP; Target-directed screening; Structure-directed screening; Antimicrobial drugs
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Funding
- Italian Foundation for Research on Cystic Fibrosis [FFC 9/2006]
- Italian Ministry for University and Research [RBPR05NWWC_004]
- European Community [GA-2008219592]
- Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) [NER/T/S/2002/00586/2, NE/G011206/1]
- NERC [NE/G011206/1] Funding Source: UKRI
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Bacteria can switch between planktonic forms (single cells) and biofilms, i.e., bacterial communities growing on solid surfaces and embedded in a matrix of extracellular polymeric substance. Biofilm formation by pathogenic bacteria often results in lower susceptibility to antibiotic treatments and in the development of chronic infections; thus, biofilm formation can be considered an important virulence factor. In recent years, much attention has been directed towards understanding the biology of biofilms and towards searching for inhibitors of biofilm development and of biofilm-related cellular processes. In this report, we review selected examples of target-based screening for anti-biofilm agents: We focus on inhibitors of quorum sensing, possibly the most characterized target for molecules with anti-biofilm activity, and on compounds interfering with the metabolism of the signal molecule cyclic di-GMP metabolism and on inhibitors of DNA and nucleotide biosynthesis, which represent a novel and promising class of biofilm inhibitors. Finally, we discuss the activation of biofilm dispersal as a novel mode of action for anti-biofilm compounds.
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