title: Molecular mechanisms of compounds affecting bacterial biofilm formation and dispersal.
abstract: Bacteria can switch between planktonic forms (single cells) and biofilms, i.e., bacterial communities growing on solid surfaces and embedded in a matrix of extracellular polymeric substance. Biofilm formation by pathogenic bacteria often results in lower susceptibility to antibiotic treatments and in the development of chronic infections; thus, biofilm formation can be considered an important virulence factor. In recent years, much attention has been directed towards understanding the biology of biofilms and towards searching for inhibitors of biofilm development and of biofilm-related cellular processes. In this report, we review selected examples of target-based screening for anti-biofilm agents: We focus on inhibitors of quorum sensing, possibly the most characterized target for molecules with anti-biofilm activity, and on compounds interfering with the metabolism of the signal molecule cyclic di-GMP metabolism and on inhibitors of DNA and nucleotide biosynthesis, which represent a novel and promising class of biofilm inhibitors. Finally, we discuss the activation of biofilm dispersal as a novel mode of action for anti-biofilm compounds.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy. paolo.landini@unimi.it
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Landini
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Antoniani
authors.forename: J Grant
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Burgess
authors.forename: Reindert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nijland
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects*; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D004247:DNA / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D009711:Nucleotides / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D053038:Quorum Sensing / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D009711:Nucleotides; C062025:bis(3',5')-cyclic diguanylic acid; D004247:DNA; D006152:Cyclic GMP