Strategies to Counteract Mono- and Polymicrobial Biofilm-Related Infections

A special issue of Antibiotics (ISSN 2079-6382). This special issue belongs to the section "Antibiofilm Strategies".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 August 2025 | Viewed by 589

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Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), Gabriele d’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
Interests: biofilm formation; cystic fibrosis; lung infections; antibiotic resistance; antimicrobial compounds; Pseudomonas aeruginosa
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Biofilms are functional consortia of microbial cells embedded into a self-produced complex matrix composed of extracellular polymeric substances, including proteins, extracellular DNA (eDNA), and exopolysaccharides. Microbial infections are mainly caused by biofilms or polymicrobial biofilms involving various bacteria, fungi, or viruses. The infections associated with biofilms are becoming increasingly difficult to control due to their chronicity and the emergence of antibiotic resistance.

This Special Issue is a call to action for innovative solutions in the field of biofilm control and treatment. We are interested in all aspects, from preventing biofilm formation to developing novel anti-biofilm agents. We also welcome the introduction of new diagnostic tools and improved strategies and therapies that could revolutionize the way we control and treat biofilm-based infections.

Prof. Dr. Giovanni Di Bonaventura
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • antimicrobials
  • anti-biofilm
  • biofilm control
  • biofilm-associated infections

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

28 pages, 1436 KiB  
Article
Repurposing High-Throughput Screening Reveals Unconventional Drugs with Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Potential Against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus from a Cystic Fibrosis Patient
by Arianna Pompilio, Veronica Lupetti, Valentina Puca and Giovanni Di Bonaventura
Antibiotics 2025, 14(4), 402; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics14040402 - 14 Apr 2025
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Abstract
Background/Objectives: Antibiotic therapy faces challenges from rising acquired and biofilm-related antibiotic resistance rates. High resistance levels to commonly used antibiotics have been observed in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains among cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, indicating an urgent need for new antibacterial agents. This study [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Antibiotic therapy faces challenges from rising acquired and biofilm-related antibiotic resistance rates. High resistance levels to commonly used antibiotics have been observed in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains among cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, indicating an urgent need for new antibacterial agents. This study aimed to identify potential novel therapeutics with antibacterial and antibiofilm activities against an MRSA CF strain by screening, for the first time, the Drug Repurposing Compound Library (MedChem Express). Methods/Results: Among the 3386 compounds, a high-throughput screening-based spectrophotometric approach identified 2439 (72%), 654 (19.3%), and 426 (12.6%) drugs active against planktonic cells, biofilm formation, and preformed biofilm, respectively, although to different extents. The most active hits were 193 (5.7%), against planktonic cells, causing a 100% growth inhibition; 5 (0.14%), with excellent activity against biofilm formation (i.e., reduction ≥ 90%); and 4, showing high activity (i.e., 60% ≤ biofilm reduction < 90%) against preformed biofilms. The potential hits belonged to several primary research areas, with “cancer” being the most prevalent. After performing a literature review to identify other, already published biological properties that could be relevant to the CF lung environment (i.e., activity against other CF pathogens, and anti-inflammatory and anti-virulence potential), the most interesting hits were the following: 5-(N,N-Hexamethylene)-amiloride (diuretic), Toremifene (anticancer), Zafirlukast (antiasthmatic), Fenretide (anticancer), and Montelukast (antiasthmatic) against planktonic S. aureus cells; Hemin against biofilm formation; and Heparin, Clemastine (antihistaminic), and Bromfenac (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory) against established biofilms. Conclusions: These findings warrant further in vitro and in vivo studies to confirm the potential of repurposing these compounds for managing lung infections caused by S. aureus in CF patients. Full article
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