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Innovative Strategies to Counteract Microbial Biofilm Growth

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A special issue of Pathogens (ISSN 2076-0817). This special issue belongs to the section "Bacterial Pathogens".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 March 2024) | Viewed by 6177

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Gutiérrez-Pacheco María Melissa

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Guest Editor

Unidad académica de San Luis Río Colorado, Universidad Estatal de Sonora, San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora, Mexico
Interests: plant extracts; fruit by-products; bioactive compounds; antimicrobial activity; biofilm formation

Dr. Ariadna Thalía Bernal-Mercado

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Departamento de Investigación y Posgrado en Alimentos, Universidad de Sonora, Hermosillo, Mexico
Interests: plant extracts; bioactive compounds; antimicrobial activity; biofilm formation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Microbial biofilms are an important worldwide problem because of their high incidence and prevalence in healthcare and food-related environments. Biofilms are communities of microorganisms embedded in a self-produced matrix of extracellular polymeric substances. This mode of microbial growth makes the microorganisms resistant to environmental stresses such as desiccation, pH, nutrient deficiency, host immune system, antibiotics, and antimicrobial compounds. For this reason, the microbial contamination of surfaces and the incidence of infections continue to occur despite conventional antimicrobial methods. This Special Issue invites researchers to publish innovative approaches to inhibit the growth of microbial biofilms. Articles will be compiled that include the use of physical, chemical, and biological strategies to counteract microbial biofilms.

Original research and review articles will be accepted. Topics of interest include (but are not limited to) the following areas:

Novel plant-derived compounds;
New synthetic antimicrobials;
Physical methods;
Microbial enzymes and bacteriocins;

Dr. Gutiérrez-Pacheco María Melissa
Dr. Ariadna Thalia Bernal-Mercado
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Pathogens is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

biofilm inhibition
antimicrobial resistance
novel antibiofilm agents
microbial biofilms
microbial enzymes and bacteriocins

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 1552 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Antimicrobial Activity of Methylene Blue Associated with Photodynamic Therapy: In Vitro Study in Multi-Species Oral Biofilm

by Bruno Bueno-Silva, Javier Parma-Garcia, Lucio Frigo, Lina J. Suárez, Tatiane Tiemi Macedo, Fábio Hideaki Uyeda, Marcelo Augusto Ruiz da Cunha Melo, Roberto Sacco, Carlos Fernando Mourão, Magda Feres, Jamil Awad Shibli and Luciene Cristina Figueiredo

Pathogens 2024, 13(4), 342; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13040342 - 21 Apr 2024

Viewed by 702

Abstract

The control of infectious diseases caused by biofilms is a continuing challenge for researchers due to the complexity of their microbial structures and therapeutic implications. Photodynamic therapy as an adjunctive anti-infective treatment has been described as a possible valid approach but has not been tested in polymicrobial biofilm models. This study evaluated the effect of photodynamic therapy in vitro with methylene blue (MB) 0.01% and red LEDs (λ = 660 nm, power density ≈ 330 mW/cm², 2 mm distance from culture) on the metabolic activity and composition of a multispecies subgingival biofilm. Test Groups LED and MB + LED showed a more significant reduction in metabolic activity than the non-LED application group (~50 and 55%, respectively). Groups LED and MB equally affected (more than 80%) the total bacterial count in biofilms. No differences were noted in the bacterial biofilm composition between the groups. In vitro LED alone or the MB + LED combination reduced the metabolic activity of bacteria in polymicrobial biofilms and the total subgingival biofilm count. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Strategies to Counteract Microbial Biofilm Growth)

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19 pages, 2813 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cold Plasma Deposition of Tobramycin as an Approach to Localized Antibiotic Delivery to Combat Biofilm Formation

by Beatrice Olayiwola, Fiona O’Neill, Chloe Frewen, Darren F. Kavanagh, Rosemary O’Hara and Liam O’Neill

Pathogens 2024, 13(4), 326; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13040326 - 16 Apr 2024

Viewed by 577

Abstract

Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) remain a significant factor in hospitals, with implant surfaces often becoming contaminated by highly resistant strains of bacteria. Recent studies have shown that electrical plasma discharges can reduce bacterial load on surfaces, and this approach may help augment traditional antibiotic treatments. To investigate this, a cold atmospheric plasma was used to deposit tobramycin sulphate onto various surfaces, and the bacterial growth rate of K. pneumoniae in its planktonic and biofilm form was observed to probe the interactions between the plasma discharge and the antibiotic and to determine if there were any synergistic effects on the growth rate. The plasma-deposited tobramycin was still active after passing through the plasma field and being deposited onto titanium or polystyrene. This led to the significant inhibition of K. pneumoniae, with predictable antibiotic dose dependence. Separate studies have shown that the plasma treatment of the biofilm had a weak antimicrobial effect and reduced the amount of biofilm by around 50%. Combining a plasma pre-treatment on exposed biofilm followed by deposited tobramycin application proved to be somewhat effective in further reducing biofilm growth. The plasma discharge pre-treatment produced a further reduction in the biofilm load beyond that expected from just the antibiotic alone. However, the effect was not additive, and the results suggest that a complex interaction between plasma and antibiotic may be at play, with increasing plasma power producing a non-linear effect. This study may contribute to the treatment of infected surgical sites, with the coating of biomaterial surfaces with antibiotics reducing overall antibiotic use through the targeted delivery of therapeutics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Strategies to Counteract Microbial Biofilm Growth)

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11 pages, 3359 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bacterial Adaptive Memory in Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus from Endotracheal Tubes

by Laia Fernández-Barat, Ruben López-Aladid, Nil Vázquez, Roberto Cabrera, Jordi Vila, Miquel Ferrer and Antoni Torres

Pathogens 2024, 13(2), 144; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13020144 - 5 Feb 2024

Viewed by 915

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the expression dynamics of biofilm genes in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) retrieved from endotracheal tubes (ETT) and to determine how gene regulation is attenuated in vitro where host–environmental factors are no longer present. Methods: Biofilm was grown (24 h) in tryptic broth soy plus 0.25% glucose for a clinical MRSA isolate in planktonic state and after sessile growth named ETT-MRSA (S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, S7). Gene expression of five biofilm-related genes (icaC, clfB, ebps, fnbB, and RNA III) was assessed consecutively from day 1 to day 4 after ETT growth through real-time PCR. 16S rRNA was used as a control. Results: The MRSA isolates retrieved from ETT were capable of producing biofilms dependent on ica. The gene expression dynamics of ETT-MRSA changed progressively compared to planktonic MRSA gene expression under both ambient air (p < 0.001) and ambient air with 5% CO2 (p < 0.001). Dynamic assessment of icaC expression in both atmospheric conditions showed progressive downregulation in vitro compared to in vivo ETT biofilms. The expression patterns of clfB and ebps genes were similar to icaC. In contrast, the expression of the RNA III gene showed progressive upregulation from day 1 to day 4 (p < 0.001). Conclusions: MRSA loses its biofilm gene expression in vitro, by adaptive features across multiple generations, as evidenced by the progressive downregulation of icaC and upregulation of RNA III. These findings underscore the significance of host–environment dependence in regulating bacterial biofilm genes, highlighting its importance in diagnostics. Bacterial strains lose their host-specific characteristics as they are cultured in vitro. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Strategies to Counteract Microbial Biofilm Growth)

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12 pages, 2181 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Oregano Essential Oil versus Conventional Disinfectants against Salmonella Typhimurium and Escherichia coli O157:H7 Biofilms and Damage to Stainless-Steel Surfaces

by Jesus M. Luna-Solorza, J. Fernando Ayala-Zavala, M. Reynaldo Cruz-Valenzuela, Gustavo A. González-Aguilar, Ariadna T. Bernal-Mercado, M. Melissa Gutierrez-Pacheco and Brenda A. Silva-Espinoza

Pathogens 2023, 12(10), 1245; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12101245 - 15 Oct 2023

Viewed by 2203

Abstract

This study compared the effect of oregano essential oil versus sodium hypochlorite, hydrogen peroxide, and benzalkonium chloride against the viability of adhered Salmonella Typhimurium and Escherichia coli O157:H7 on 304 stainless steel. Oregano essential oil was effective in disrupting the biofilms of both bacteria at concentrations ranging from 0.15 to 0.52 mg mL⁻¹. In addition, damage to stainless-steel surfaces following disinfection treatments was assessed by weight loss analysis and via visual inspection using light microscopy. Compared to the other treatments, oregano oil caused the least damage to stainless steel (~0.001% weight loss), whereas sodium hypochlorite caused the most severe damage (0.00817% weight loss) when applied at 0.5 mg mL⁻¹. Moreover, oregano oil also had an apparent protective impact on the stainless steel as weight losses were less than for the control surfaces (distilled water only). On the other hand, sodium hypochlorite caused the most severe damage to stainless steel (0.00817% weight loss). In conclusion, oregano oil eliminated monoculture biofilms of two important foodborne pathogens on 304 stainless-steel surfaces, while at the same time minimizing damage to the surfaces compared with conventional disinfectant treatments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Strategies to Counteract Microbial Biofilm Growth)

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Review

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52 pages, 1537 KiB

Open AccessReview

Emerging Approaches for Mitigating Biofilm-Formation-Associated Infections in Farm, Wild, and Companion Animals

by Daniela Araújo, Ana Rita Silva, Rúben Fernandes, Patrícia Serra, Maria Margarida Barros, Ana Maria Campos, Ricardo Oliveira, Sónia Silva, Carina Almeida and Joana Castro

Pathogens 2024, 13(4), 320; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13040320 - 13 Apr 2024

Viewed by 1136

Abstract

The importance of addressing the problem of biofilms in farm, wild, and companion animals lies in their pervasive impact on animal health and welfare. Biofilms, as resilient communities of microorganisms, pose a persistent challenge in causing infections and complicating treatment strategies. Recognizing and understanding the importance of mitigating biofilm formation is critical to ensuring the welfare of animals in a variety of settings, from farms to the wild and companion animals. Effectively addressing this issue not only improves the overall health of individual animals, but also contributes to the broader goals of sustainable agriculture, wildlife conservation, and responsible pet ownership. This review examines the current understanding of biofilm formation in animal diseases and elucidates the complex processes involved. Recognizing the limitations of traditional antibiotic treatments, mechanisms of resistance associated with biofilms are explored. The focus is on alternative therapeutic strategies to control biofilm, with illuminating case studies providing valuable context and practical insights. In conclusion, the review highlights the importance of exploring emerging approaches to mitigate biofilm formation in animals. It consolidates existing knowledge, highlights gaps in understanding, and encourages further research to address this critical facet of animal health. The comprehensive perspective provided by this review serves as a foundation for future investigations and interventions to improve the management of biofilm-associated infections in diverse animal populations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Strategies to Counteract Microbial Biofilm Growth)

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