The clinical impact of bacterial biofilms
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The clinical impact of bacterial biofilms. / Høiby, Niels; Ciofu, Oana; Johansen, Helle Krogh; Song, Zhi-jun; Moser, Claus; Jensen, Peter Østrup; Molin, Søren; Givskov, Michael; Tolker-Nielsen, Tim; Bjarnsholt, Thomas.
In: International Journal of Oral Science, Vol. 3, No. 2, 2011, p. 55-65.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - The clinical impact of bacterial biofilms
AU - Høiby, Niels
AU - Ciofu, Oana
AU - Johansen, Helle Krogh
AU - Song, Zhi-jun
AU - Moser, Claus
AU - Jensen, Peter Østrup
AU - Molin, Søren
AU - Givskov, Michael
AU - Tolker-Nielsen, Tim
AU - Bjarnsholt, Thomas
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - Bacteria survive in nature by forming biofilms on surfaces and probably most, if not all, bacteria (and fungi) are capable of forming biofilms. A biofilm is a structured consortium of bacteria embedded in a self-produced polymer matrix consisting of polysaccharide, protein and extracellular DNA. Bacterial biofilms are resistant to antibiotics, disinfectant chemicals and to phagocytosis and other components of the innate and adaptive inflammatory defense system of the body. It is known, for example, that persistence of staphylococcal infections related to foreign bodies is due to biofilm formation. Likewise, chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infections in cystic fibrosis patients are caused by biofilm growing mucoid strains. Gradients of nutrients and oxygen exist from the top to the bottom of biofilms and the bacterial cells located in nutrient poor areas have decreased metabolic activity and increased doubling times. These more or less dormant cells are therefore responsible for some of the tolerance to antibiotics. Biofilm growth is associated with an increased level of mutations. Bacteria in biofilms communicate by means of molecules, which activates certain genes responsible for production of virulence factors and, to some extent, biofilm structure. This phenomenon is called quorum sensing and depends upon the concentration of the quorum sensing molecules in a certain niche, which depends on the number of the bacteria. Biofilms can be prevented by antibiotic prophylaxis or early aggressive antibiotic therapy and they can be treated by chronic suppressive antibiotic therapy. Promising strategies may include the use of compounds which can dissolve the biofilm matrix and quorum sensing inhibitors, which increases biofilm susceptibility to antibiotics and phagocytosis.
AB - Bacteria survive in nature by forming biofilms on surfaces and probably most, if not all, bacteria (and fungi) are capable of forming biofilms. A biofilm is a structured consortium of bacteria embedded in a self-produced polymer matrix consisting of polysaccharide, protein and extracellular DNA. Bacterial biofilms are resistant to antibiotics, disinfectant chemicals and to phagocytosis and other components of the innate and adaptive inflammatory defense system of the body. It is known, for example, that persistence of staphylococcal infections related to foreign bodies is due to biofilm formation. Likewise, chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infections in cystic fibrosis patients are caused by biofilm growing mucoid strains. Gradients of nutrients and oxygen exist from the top to the bottom of biofilms and the bacterial cells located in nutrient poor areas have decreased metabolic activity and increased doubling times. These more or less dormant cells are therefore responsible for some of the tolerance to antibiotics. Biofilm growth is associated with an increased level of mutations. Bacteria in biofilms communicate by means of molecules, which activates certain genes responsible for production of virulence factors and, to some extent, biofilm structure. This phenomenon is called quorum sensing and depends upon the concentration of the quorum sensing molecules in a certain niche, which depends on the number of the bacteria. Biofilms can be prevented by antibiotic prophylaxis or early aggressive antibiotic therapy and they can be treated by chronic suppressive antibiotic therapy. Promising strategies may include the use of compounds which can dissolve the biofilm matrix and quorum sensing inhibitors, which increases biofilm susceptibility to antibiotics and phagocytosis.
KW - Animals
KW - Antibiotic Prophylaxis
KW - Biofilms
KW - Chronic Disease
KW - Cystic Fibrosis
KW - Drug Resistance, Microbial
KW - Foreign Bodies
KW - Humans
KW - Microbial Consortia
KW - Phagocytosis
KW - Pseudomonas Infections
KW - Pseudomonas aeruginosa
KW - Quorum Sensing
U2 - 10.4248/IJOS11026
DO - 10.4248/IJOS11026
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 21485309
VL - 3
SP - 55
EP - 65
JO - International Journal of Oral Science
JF - International Journal of Oral Science
SN - 1674-2818
IS - 2
ER -
ID: 33853467