Work

Antibiofilm polysaccharides

Year: 2012

Type: review

Abstract: Bacterial extracellular polysaccharides have been shown to mediate many of the cell-to-cell and cell-to-surface interactions that are required for the formation, cohesion and stabilization of bacterial biofilms. However, recent studies have identified several bacterial polysaccharides that inhibit biofilm formation by a wide spectrum of bacteria and fungi both in vitro and in vivo. This review discusses the composition, modes of action and potential biological roles of antibiofilm polysaccharides recently identified in bacteria and eukarya. Some of these molecules may have technological applications as antibiofilm agents in industry and medicine.

Source: Environmental Microbiology

DOI: 10.1111/j.1462-2920.2012.02810.x

Authors: Olaya Rendueles, Jeffrey B. Kaplan, Jean‐Marc Ghigo

Institution: Institut Pasteur

Language: English

Topic: Bacterial biofilms and quorum sensing

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases