title: The Role of Efflux and Physiological Adaptation in Biofilm Tolerance and Resistance.
abstract: Microbial biofilms demonstrate a decreased susceptibility to antimicrobial agents. Various mechanisms have been proposed to be involved in this recalcitrance. We focus on two of these factors. Firstly, the ability of sessile cells to actively mediate efflux of antimicrobial compounds has a profound impact on resistance and tolerance, and several studies point to the existence of biofilm-specific efflux systems. Secondly, biofilm-specific stress responses have a marked influence on cellular physiology, and contribute to the occurrence of persister cells. We provide an overview of the data that demonstrate that both processes are important for survival following exposure to antimicrobial agents.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, B-9000 Gent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Heleen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Van Acker
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, B-9000 Gent, Belgium. Electronic address: Tom.Coenye@UGent.be.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Coenye
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects*; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D001692:Biological Transport; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects*; D004361:Drug Tolerance / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D050296:Microbial Viability / Q000187:drug effects; D008954:Models, Biological
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents
keywords: antibiotic resistance; bacteria; biofilm; efflux; microbiology; tolerance