Biofilm Formations in Pediatric Respiratory Tract Infection Part 2: Mucosal Biofilm Formation by Respiratory Pathogens and Current and Future Therapeutic Strategies to Inhibit Biofilm Formation or Eradicate Established Biofilm

AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe purpose of this review is to discuss the unique pathways of biofilm formation utilized by respiratory pathogens and current and future therapeutic strategies to inhibit biofilm formation or eradicate established biofilm in the context of these pathogens. Both nonselective and selective strategies for inhibiting biofilm formation or disrupting established biofilm are discussed.Recent FindingsNumerous strategies are being actively pursued to inhibit biofilm formation or eradicate established biofilm in respiratory pathogens. These can be broadly categorized by the stage of biofilm formation (adhesion, extracellular polysaccharide synthesis or structure, EPS, and matrix degradation) that they target and by their selectivity or lack thereof for specific biofilm pathogens. Nonselective inhibitors of adhesion includeN-acetylcysteine and artificial surfactants and biosurfactants. Selective inhibitors of adhesion include mannosides that target host-EPS interactions, EPS-targeted antibodies, and other inhibitors of bacterial adhesion. Nonselective inhibitors of EPS synthesis and structure include cyclic di-GMP and cyclic di-AMP —through disruption of glucan-producing exoenzymes. Selective inhibitors of EPS synthesis and structure include antibodies that target proteins essential for biofilm structure (such as DNABII proteins and type IV pilin protein in NTHi) or antibodies that target critical molecules in biofilm format ion (such as DNA adenine methyltr...

Source: Current Infectious Disease Reports - March 1, 2019 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research