Biofilm Development and Its Eradication

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Biofilm".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 678

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Biodiscovery Institute, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
Interests: antimicrobial resistance; bacterial genetics; biofilm; biomaterial; molecular microbiology; quorum sensing; surface sensing

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Bacteria readily attach to surfaces, forming biofilms. These are organised communities of bacteria embedded in a protective, self-generated extracellular matrix (ECM) that distinguishes them from free-living cells, such as their intrinsic tolerance to antibiotics and host immune defences and ability to cause persistent infections. Biofilm formation is largely determined by the interplay between bacterial surface sensing, the prevailing environmental conditions, and the physical and chemical properties of the surface. In this Special Issue, we aim to attract papers covering a broad range of disciplines on the development of new preventive approaches and offering a better understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in biofilm initiation and development on which they depend. Hereby, we wish to highlight the emerging anti-biofilm strategies that can be translated to combat biofilm-associated infections, including targeting biofilm formation, disrupting the existing biofilms, and preventing the development of antibiotic resistance.

Dr. Jean-Frédéric Dubern
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • biofilm formation
  • drug resistance
  • medical device
  • biofilm control
  • biofilm model
  • anti-biofilm molecules

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

22 pages, 4067 KB  
Article
Antibiofilm Potential and Mechanisms of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei L475 Against Multidrug-Resistant Escherichia coli Isolated from Older Adults
by Botong Zhang, Sainan Guo, Mingyu Li, Yuan Niu, Yiman Liu, Nan Wu, Hong Zhu and Yue Cui
Microorganisms 2026, 14(4), 888; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms14040888 - 16 Apr 2026
Viewed by 330
Abstract
The high prevalence of biofilm-associated multidrug-resistant (MDR) Escherichia coli infections in older adults calls for novel control strategies. This study compared fecal E. coli carriage, antimicrobial resistance, and biofilm formation among community-dwelling older adults with different self-reported immune statuses (lower vs. normal), and [...] Read more.
The high prevalence of biofilm-associated multidrug-resistant (MDR) Escherichia coli infections in older adults calls for novel control strategies. This study compared fecal E. coli carriage, antimicrobial resistance, and biofilm formation among community-dwelling older adults with different self-reported immune statuses (lower vs. normal), and evaluated the antibiofilm activity of five Lactobacillus cell-free supernatants (CFSs). Fecal samples from 20 older adults were analyzed. E. coli was enumerated, and isolates were characterized for antimicrobial susceptibility and biofilm formation. Five Lactobacillus strains were screened for antibiofilm activity using crystal violet assay, with further evaluation of extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) production and biofilm morphology. After removing the redundant isolates, 70 isolates were reported, with significantly higher counts in the lower-immunity group (7.89 vs. 6.04 log MPN/g). The lower-immunity group had significantly higher antimicrobial resistance (97.3% vs. 60.6%), and higher MDR prevalence (91.7% vs. 24.2%). Biofilm formation was observed in 62.9% of isolates, with significantly higher prevalence among MDR isolates and in the lower-immunity group. L. paracasei L475 CFS showed the strongest antibiofilm activity against a representative MDR isolate (L5-1), with inhibition and eradication rates of 82.9% and 75.0%, respectively. Mechanistically, L475 CFS reduced extracellular polymeric substance components, with a 92.3% reduction in proteins and 41.3% in polysaccharides. Microscopy confirmed disrupted biofilm architecture, membrane damage, and cell lysis. In conclusion, these preliminary findings indicate a potential association between self-reported immune function and E. coli resistance/biofilm formation in older adults. L. paracasei L475 CFS demonstrates promising in vitro antibiofilm activity against an MDR E. coli isolate from this population, supporting its potential as a postbiotic candidate. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biofilm Development and Its Eradication)
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