Abstract
Although free-swimming planktonic bacteria historically have been the typical focus of microbiological studies, the natural state of many or most bacteria is one where they instead are associated with surfaces and/or each other. For many pathogenic as well as nuisance bacteria, including biofouling bacteria, it consequently is within the context of this biofilm state that antibacterial strategies must be implemented. For reasons that are not fully understood, however, biofilm-associated bacteria tend to be less susceptible to treatments with standard chemical antibacterial agents than are planktonic bacteria, and this appears to be especially an issue with the use of lessharsh agents such as antibiotics. Within a variety of contexts the development of less- or selectively toxic antibacterial agents capable of clearing biofilms therefore would be welcome. In this review we consider the use of three categories of such agents as anti-biofilm antibacterials. These are lytic viruses of bacteria, that is, bacteriophages, effecting phage-mediated biocontrol of bacteria (a.k.a., phage therapy); purified phage-encoded enzymes that digest bacterial cell-wall material (endolysins or simply lysins); and a second category of phage-encoded enzymes that digest the extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) that are particularly notable components of bacterial biofilms (EPS depolymerases). These agents have been shown to reduce the bacterial density of a diversity of biofilms and, in many cases, tend to be lacking in inherent toxicity against the tissues of animals. Here we consider these phage-based anti-biofilm strategies with emphasis on ecological aspects of their action and with particular consideration of EPS depolymerases.
Keywords: Antibacterial agents, biocontrol, biofilm, biofilm control, endolysin, EPS depolymerase, extracellular polymeric substance depolymerase, exracellular polysaccharide depolymerase, lysin, phage therapy, phage-mediated biocontrol.
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title:Bacteriophages and their Enzymes in Biofilm Control
Volume: 21 Issue: 1
Author(s): Benjamin K. Chan and Stephen T. Abedon
Affiliation:
Keywords: Antibacterial agents, biocontrol, biofilm, biofilm control, endolysin, EPS depolymerase, extracellular polymeric substance depolymerase, exracellular polysaccharide depolymerase, lysin, phage therapy, phage-mediated biocontrol.
Abstract: Although free-swimming planktonic bacteria historically have been the typical focus of microbiological studies, the natural state of many or most bacteria is one where they instead are associated with surfaces and/or each other. For many pathogenic as well as nuisance bacteria, including biofouling bacteria, it consequently is within the context of this biofilm state that antibacterial strategies must be implemented. For reasons that are not fully understood, however, biofilm-associated bacteria tend to be less susceptible to treatments with standard chemical antibacterial agents than are planktonic bacteria, and this appears to be especially an issue with the use of lessharsh agents such as antibiotics. Within a variety of contexts the development of less- or selectively toxic antibacterial agents capable of clearing biofilms therefore would be welcome. In this review we consider the use of three categories of such agents as anti-biofilm antibacterials. These are lytic viruses of bacteria, that is, bacteriophages, effecting phage-mediated biocontrol of bacteria (a.k.a., phage therapy); purified phage-encoded enzymes that digest bacterial cell-wall material (endolysins or simply lysins); and a second category of phage-encoded enzymes that digest the extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) that are particularly notable components of bacterial biofilms (EPS depolymerases). These agents have been shown to reduce the bacterial density of a diversity of biofilms and, in many cases, tend to be lacking in inherent toxicity against the tissues of animals. Here we consider these phage-based anti-biofilm strategies with emphasis on ecological aspects of their action and with particular consideration of EPS depolymerases.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Chan K. Benjamin and Abedon T. Stephen, Bacteriophages and their Enzymes in Biofilm Control, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2015; 21 (1) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612820666140905112311
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612820666140905112311 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
"Tuberculosis Prevention, Diagnosis and Drug Discovery"
The Nobel Prize-winning discoveries of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and streptomycin have enabled an appropriate diagnosis and an effective treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Since then, many newer diagnosis methods and drugs have been saving millions of lives. Despite advances in the past, TB is still a leading cause of infectious disease mortality ...read more
Current Pharmaceutical challenges in the treatment and diagnosis of neurological dysfunctions
Neurological dysfunctions (MND, ALS, MS, PD, AD, HD, ALS, Autism, OCD etc..) present significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, often necessitating innovative approaches and therapeutic interventions. This thematic issue aims to explore the current pharmaceutical landscape surrounding neurological disorders, shedding light on the challenges faced by researchers, clinicians, and ...read more
Emerging and re-emerging diseases
Faced with a possible endemic situation of COVID-19, the world has experienced two important phenomena, the emergence of new infectious diseases and/or the resurgence of previously eradicated infectious diseases. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of such diseases has also undergone changes. This context, in turn, may have a strong relationship with ...read more
Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Treatment: Standard of Care and Recent Advances
In this thematic issue, we aim to provide a standard of care of the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. The editor will invite authors from different countries who will write review articles of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. The Diagnosis, Staging, Surgical Treatment, Non-Surgical Treatment all ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Prevalence and Prognostic Value of Depression and Anxiety in Patients with Diabetic Foot Ulcers and Possibilities of their Treatment
Current Diabetes Reviews Infection and Hemodialysis Access: An Updated Review.
Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets N-Acetyl Cysteine in Rodenticide Poisoning: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Current Reviews in Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology Cardiovascular Control After Spinal Cord Injury
Current Vascular Pharmacology Structure-Activity Relationships of Low Molecular Weight Heparins Expose to the Risk of Achieving Inappropriate Targets in Patients with Renal Failure
Current Medicinal Chemistry A Review of Cardiogenic Shock in Acute Myocardial Infarction
Current Cardiology Reviews Recent Strategies Combining Biomaterials and Stem Cells for Bone, Liver and Skin Regeneration
Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy Immunomodulation Mechanism of Antidepressants: Interactions between Serotonin/Norepinephrine Balance and Th1/Th2 Balance
Current Neuropharmacology Pharmacogenetics in Cardiovascular Antithrombotic Therapy
Current Medicinal Chemistry - Cardiovascular & Hematological Agents Prevention of Cell Damage in Ischaemic-Reperfusion: Mitochondrial Respiratory Chain as a Pharmacological Target
Letters in Drug Design & Discovery Advancements in Treatment Options of Women Infertility
Current Women`s Health Reviews Recent Advances on the Roles of NO in Cancer and Chronic Inflammatory Disorders
Current Medicinal Chemistry Thiopurines in Inflammatory Bowel Disease - The Role of Pharmacogenetics and Therapeutic Drug Monitoring
Current Pharmacogenomics Centralized and Local Color Doppler Ultrasound Reading Agreement for Diagnosis of the Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis
Current Neurovascular Research Arterial Hyperoxia in Severe Head Injury: A Useful or Harmful Option?
Current Pharmaceutical Design Lipoprotein (a) and Cardiovascular Risk: The Show Must go on
Current Medicinal Chemistry Signal Transduction Therapy of Diabetic Vascular Complication
Current Signal Transduction Therapy Extracellular Proteases as Targets for Drug Development
Current Protein & Peptide Science Severe Preeclampsia
Current Women`s Health Reviews Biomarkers Associated with Bleeding Risk in the Setting of Atrial Fibrillation
Current Medicinal Chemistry