title: Recent advances in natural product-based anti-biofilm approaches to control infections.
abstract: Bacterial biofilms are highly organized surface-associated communities of bacteria encased within an extracellular matrix produced by themselves, capable of growing in connection with different biological or inert surfaces such as artificial joints or catheters. Biofilms are commonly associated with many health problems, such as endocarditis, otitis media, periodontitis, prostatitis, and urinary tract infections. Several bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, or fungal pathogen as Candida albicans, can form biofilms in the body tissues, leading to different infections. The inherently defensive character of the biofilm is demonstrated by enhanced persistence of bacteria grown in the sessile mode respect to bacteria grown planktonically. This makes most biofilm- associated infections difficult to eradicate, thus contributing to disease chronicity. Since natural products provide a diverse array of chemical structures and possess a wide variety of biological properties, natural resources are worldwide exploited in the search of new pharmaceuticals. In this context bioactive secondary metabolites from natural sources, useful for the new antimicrobial and anti-biofilm drugs, are of interest. In this review, the role of small molecules from plants and marine organisms in inhibiting and/or dispersing bacterial biofilms is discussed, as well as the approaches that have been applied to the discovery of lead small molecules that mediate biofilm development. Molecules inhibiting the formation of biofilm may have therapeutic potential. Several candidates, as halogenated furanones, 2-amminoimidazole alkaloids and flavonoids have been already isolated and characterized from many plants and from marine organisms.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Buommino
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scognamiglio
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Donnarumma
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fiorentino
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, Second University of Naples - via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy. brigida.dabrosca@unina2.it.
authors.forename: Brigida
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: D'Abrosca
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D001688:Biological Products / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001688:Biological Products