Options and Limitations in Clinical Investigation of Bacterial Biofilms

Abstract

Bacteria can form single- and multispecies biofilms exhibiting diverse features based upon the microbial composition of their community and microenvironment. The study of bacterial biofilm development has received great interest in the past 20 years and is motivated by the elegant complexity characteristic of these multicellular communities and their role in infectious diseases. Biofilms can thrive on virtually any surface and can be beneficial or detrimental based upon the community's interplay and the surface. Advances in the understanding of structural and functional variations and the roles that biofilms play in disease and host-pathogen interactions have been addressed through comprehensive literature searches. In this review article, a synopsis of the methodological landscape of biofilm analysis is provided, including an evaluation of the current trends in methodological research. We deem this worthwhile because a keyword-oriented bibliographical search reveals that less than 5% of the biofilm literature is devoted to methodology. In this report, we (i) summarize current methodologies for biofilm characterization, monitoring, and quantification; (ii) discuss advances in the discovery of effective imaging and sensing tools and modalities; (iii) provide an overview of tailored animal models that assess features of biofilm infections; and (iv) make recommendations defining the most appropriate methodological tools for clinical settings.

Antibacterial activity of human mesenchymal stem cells mediated directly by constitutively secreted factors and indirectly by activation of innate immune effector cells

“…Although much of the direct antibacterial activity of MSC involving production of AMPs has been previously reported, little has been noted previously regarding the ability of MSC to disrupt preexisting bacterial biofilms . Here, we also report that newly forming or already formed biofilms can be disrupted by MSC, highlighting the potential for MSC to be used as a treatment for chronic infections, including those often associated with biofilms . We also found that MSC produced factors that enhance the bactericidal activity of all major classes of antibiotics evaluated, including enhancement of antibiotic activity against MDR bacteria.…”

“…39 Here, we also report that newly forming or already formed biofilms can be disrupted by MSC, highlighting the potential for MSC to be used as a treatment for chronic infections, including those often associated with biofilms. 40,41 We also found that MSC produced factors that Production of AMP is one of the most widely investigated direct antimicrobial mechanisms of MSC. 5,18,20,21,42 Previous studies have reported spontaneous production of several different AMP by human and animal MSC, as revealed by bactericidal assays.…”

Autolysin-Independent DNA Release inStreptococcus pneumoniae in vitroBiofilms

“…However, whether it is of bacterial or environmental (including host) origin (or both) is controversial; certainly it is difficult to determine which is the case under in vivo conditions. Studies using in vitro biofilm models (grown on plastic, glass, or other abiotic surfaces) provide a convenient way to screen large sets of strains, treatments, or growing conditions (44).…”

Treating Polymicrobial Infections in Chronic Diabetic Wounds

“…Several strategies for wound management have been described previously, including the delivery of growth factors to accelerate healing (8)(9)(10). Magana et al also described in detail the laboratory techniques used to monitor, characterize, and quantify bacterial biofilms (11). The focus of this review article is on infection management strategies for chronic wounds.…”