Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Control of Polymicrobial Biofilms:
Recent Trends
Derek S. Samarian, Kyung Rok Min, Nicholas S. Jakubovics,
and Alexander H. Rickard
Abstract
Biofilms represent the dominant mode of bacterial existence in natural
and man-made environments. Bacteria within biofilms possess collective biofilm-
imposed properties that make them distinct from their planktonic counterparts. One
key property is an enhanced resistance to antimicrobials. Previous strategies to treat
biofilms have focused on either single or combined chemical treatments or physical
removal. Considering that many chronic bacterial illnesses are associated with
multispecies biofilms, such approaches may not be effective because juxtaposed
species can act synergistically to enhance recalcitrance to treatments, resulting in
treatment failure. This section will introduce the reader to the processes leading to
the development of human-associated polymicrobial biofilms with a particular
emphasis on multispecies succession, ecology, and integration by pathogenic
bacteria. Then, cognizant of processes and properties, newly developed or promis-
ing approaches to control pathogenic biofilm communities will be considered.
These approaches will either be preventative or therapeutic and based upon the
manipulation of biological processes (e.g., cell-cell signaling, coaggregation, treat-
ment with phage) or based purely upon technological advances (e.g., cold plasma,
modified-surface technologies, nanoparticles). The advantages and disadvantages
of the different approaches will be discussed and future prospects considered.
Recognizing the current issues associated with the spread of antimicrobial resis-
tance and the overall recalcitrance of biofilms, we propose that new technologies to
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