title: Biofilms: Microbial Shelters Against Antibiotics.
abstract: Biofilms are communities of aggregated bacterial cells embedded in a self-produced extracellular polymeric matrix. Biofilms are recalcitrant to antibiotic treatment and immune defenses and are implicated in many chronic bacterial and fungal infections. In this review, we provide an overview of the contribution of biofilms to persistent infections resistant to antibiotic treatment, the impact of multispecies biofilms on drug resistance and tolerance, and recent advances in the development of antibiofilm agents. Understanding the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance and tolerance in biofilms is essential for developing new preventive and therapeutic strategies and curbing drug resistance.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal , Montréal, Canada .
authors.forename: Skander
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hathroubi
authors.affiliation: 2 The National Bone Marrow Transplant Centre , UR12ES02, Faculty of Medicine, Tunis, Tunisia .
authors.forename: Mohamed A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mekni
authors.affiliation: 3 Microbion Corporation , Boseman, Montana.
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Domenico
authors.affiliation: 4 Meakins Christie Laboratories, Department of Medicine, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre , Montréal, Canada .
authors.forename: Dao
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal , Montréal, Canada .
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jacques
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects*; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial / Q000187:drug effects*; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: anti-biofilm agents; antibiotic resistance; antibiotic tolerance; biofilm