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Antibiotics
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In the Race against Polymicrobial Biofilms: Current Research and New...
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In the Race against Polymicrobial Biofilms: Current Research and New Breakthroughs for the Clinic

A special issue of Antibiotics (ISSN 2079-6382). This special issue belongs to the section "The Global Need for Effective Antibiotics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 July 2022) | Viewed by 12278

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Susana Patrícia Lopes

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
CEB-Centre of Biological Engineering, LIBRO-Laboratory of Research in Biofilms Rosário Oliveira, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
Interests: biofilms; cistic fibrosis; resistance; pseudomonas
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Diana Alves

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, LIBRO - Laboratory of Research in Biofilms Rosário Oliveira, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
Interests: polymicrobial biofilms; biomaterial-associated infections; antimicrobial coatings

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The notion that a significant number of persistent human-associated infectious diseases are mediated by biofilms is now widely recognized. Microorganisms within biofilms are generally sheltered against chemical, mechanical, and environmental stresses, exhibiting multiple protective mechanisms and/or altered expression of resistance-/virulence-associated genes due to activation of stress responses and/or adaptation to grow on biotic or abiotic (e.g., medical-device-related) surfaces.

Generally embracing heterogeneous communities spanning different phylogenetic kingdoms, polymicrobial biofilms pose a major threat for the healthcare setting and a considerable risk for patients, by withstanding current antimicrobial treatments and host immune defenses.

A striking characteristic of polymicrobial biofilms is co-habitation (i.e., microorganisms living in close proximity), which has been described to promote complex communication networks (through quorum-sensing), metabolic cooperations and other synergies, in ways that cause outcomes (e.g., virulence, antibiotic therapy, disease progression) worse than those provided by single-species infections. Additionally, those type of infections (polymicrobial) often pave the way for the evolution of antimicrobial resistance and are a common cause of treatment failure, being linked with high mortality rates.

Therefore, managing polymicrobial biofilms still remains a challenge, and it demands identifying, developing, and optimizing clinically relevant strategies aiming at reducing the burden associated with complex biofilm infections.

Because the growing evidence that polymicrobial biofilms govern persistent infections has curbed conventional treatment lanes (e.g., antibiotic therapy) used in the fight against them, the development of alternative effective antimicrobial strategies has been emerging as an important therapeutic route.

This Special Issue is dedicated to increasing our knowledge on the role of polymicrobial biofilms in clinical practice, aiming at advancing the current understanding of the aspects related to those foreign structures and solutions to fight them. Studies that explore the complexity associated to polymicrobial biofilms, namely microbial–microbial and/or host–pathogen interactions, pathogenicity, resistance mechanisms, and that provide new breakthroughs regarding their diagnosis and management are welcome.

In short, this Special Issue aims to provide a platform for researchers to describe, among others, the following subjects:

  • Study of microbial–microbial (including multi-kingdom) and microbial–host interactions in the polymicrobial biofilm communities that often govern such infections;
  • Current antimicrobial therapies and exploitation of novel therapeutic approaches (e.g., involving antibiotic and/or non-antibiotic strategies; phage therapy) targeting polymicrobial biofilms and aiming to reduce the burden associated with polymicrobial consortia;
  • Studies addressing the mechanisms underlying AMR in polymicrobial consortia and their persistent colonization of biotic/non-biotic surfaces;
  • Research on the problem of antimicrobial resistance associated with polymicrobial biofilms and ways to counteract its emergence.

Dr. Susana Patrícia Lopes
Dr. Diana Alves
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Antibiotics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • antimicrobial resistance
  • biofilm
  • infection
  • interspecies interactions
  • polymicrobial consortia

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

8 pages, 2108 KiB  
Communication
Investigating Dual-Species Candida auris and Staphylococcal Biofilm Antiseptic Challenge
by Dolunay Gülmez, Jason L. Brown, Mark C. Butcher, Christopher Delaney, Ryan Kean, Gordon Ramage and Bryn Short
Antibiotics 2022, 11(7), 931; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics11070931 - 11 Jul 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2184
Abstract
Candida auris can persistently colonize human skin, alongside a diverse bacterial microbiome. In this study we aimed to investigate the efficacy of antiseptic activities on dual-species interkingdom biofilms containing staphylococci to determine if antiseptic tolerance was negatively impacted by dual-species biofilms. Chlorhexidine, povidone [...] Read more.
Candida auris can persistently colonize human skin, alongside a diverse bacterial microbiome. In this study we aimed to investigate the efficacy of antiseptic activities on dual-species interkingdom biofilms containing staphylococci to determine if antiseptic tolerance was negatively impacted by dual-species biofilms. Chlorhexidine, povidone iodine, and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), were able to significantly reduce biofilm viable cell counts following exposure at 2%, 10%, and 3%, respectively. Notably, H2O2-treated biofilms were able to significantly recover and considerably repopulate following treatment. Fortunately, inter-kingdom interactions in dual-species biofilms of C. auris and staphylococci did not increase the tolerance of C. auris against antiseptics in vitro. These data indicate mixed infections are manageable with chlorhexidine and povidone iodine, but caution should be exercised in the consideration of H2O2. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue In the Race against Polymicrobial Biofilms: Current Research and New Breakthroughs for the Clinic)
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14 pages, 1929 KiB  
Article
Clinical Trial for Evaluating the Effectiveness and Safety of a New Dental Plaque Removal Device: Microscale Mist Unit
by Hiroki Hihara, Kuniyuki Izumita, Misato Iwatsu, Tomoya Sato, Ryo Tagaino, Kenta Shobara, Yuta Shinohara, Takanori Hatakeyama, Chie Kayaba, Mariko Sato, Ayako Tokue, Tomoko Sugawara, Kanamai Ashino, Koji Ikeda, Jun Aida and Keiichi Sasaki
Antibiotics 2022, 11(6), 825; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics11060825 - 19 Jun 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2602
Abstract
This study evaluates the effectiveness and safety of a microscale mist unit (MSM-UNIT) that sprays high-speed fine water droplets to remove dental plaque adhering to the oral mucosa (tongue and palate) and tooth surface. Fifteen patients who had difficulty self-managing sufficient oral care [...] Read more.
This study evaluates the effectiveness and safety of a microscale mist unit (MSM-UNIT) that sprays high-speed fine water droplets to remove dental plaque adhering to the oral mucosa (tongue and palate) and tooth surface. Fifteen patients who had difficulty self-managing sufficient oral care were included in this study. Effectiveness was evaluated for at least five patients’ tongues, palate mucosas, and tooth surfaces, and safety evaluation was conducted at all three sites for all patients. Effectiveness was evaluated using the rate of degree of dental plaque removal. Safety was evaluated using a numerical rating scale (NRS) for pain and symptoms of inflammation. An operator who performed treatment and an evaluator who evaluated effectiveness and safety were designated. In addition, an image judgment committee judged effectiveness. Although evaluation of the tongue varied between the evaluators and the image judgment committee, the rates of degree for all plaque removal increased in all regions. In addition, low pain NRS results and minimal symptoms of inflammation were observed and within an acceptable range. The MSM-UNIT can be used effectively and safely for removing oral plaque not only from teeth, but also from the oral mucosa. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue In the Race against Polymicrobial Biofilms: Current Research and New Breakthroughs for the Clinic)
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10 pages, 2389 KiB  
Article
An In Vitro Evaluation of Denture Cleansing Regimens against a Polymicrobial Denture Biofilm Model
by Jason L. Brown, Tracy Young, Emily McKloud, Mark C. Butcher, David Bradshaw, Jonathan R. Pratten and Gordon Ramage
Antibiotics 2022, 11(1), 113; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics11010113 - 16 Jan 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3287
Abstract
Denture stomatitis (DS) is an inflammatory disease resulting from a polymicrobial biofilm perturbation at the denture surface–palatal mucosa interface. Recommendations made by dental health care professionals often lack clarity for appropriate denture cleaning. This study investigated the efficacy of brushing with off-the-shelf denture [...] Read more.
Denture stomatitis (DS) is an inflammatory disease resulting from a polymicrobial biofilm perturbation at the denture surface–palatal mucosa interface. Recommendations made by dental health care professionals often lack clarity for appropriate denture cleaning. This study investigated the efficacy of brushing with off-the-shelf denture cleanser (DC) tablets (Poligrip®) vs. two toothpastes (Colgate® and Crest®) in alleviating the viable microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) in an in vitro denture biofilm model. Biofilms were grown on poly(methyl)methacrylate (PMMA) discs, then treated daily for 7 days with mechanical disruption (brushing), plus Poligrip® DC, Colgate® or Crest® toothpastes. Weekly treatment with Poligrip® DC on day 7 only was compared to daily modalities. All treatment parameters were processed to determine viable colony forming units for bacteria and fungi using the Miles and Misra technique, and imaged by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Brushing with daily DC therapy was the most effective treatment in reducing the viable biofilm over 7 days of treatment. Brushing only was ineffective in controlling the viable bioburden, which was confirmed by CLSM imaging. This data indicates that regular cleansing of PMMA with DC was best for polymicrobial biofilms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue In the Race against Polymicrobial Biofilms: Current Research and New Breakthroughs for the Clinic)
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14 pages, 1741 KiB  
Article
Chitosan Enhances the Anti-Biofilm Activity of Biodentine against an Interkingdom Biofilm Model
by Sumaya Abusrewil, Jason L. Brown, Christopher Delaney, Mark C. Butcher, Mohammed Tiba, J. Alun Scott, Gordon Ramage and William McLean
Antibiotics 2021, 10(11), 1317; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics10111317 - 29 Oct 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3477
Abstract
Endodontic infection is a biofilm disease that is difficult to irradicate with current treatment protocols, and as such, persistent micro-organisms may lead to ongoing or recurrent disease. The potential for the use of enhanced filling materials to modify biofilm regrowth is a promising [...] Read more.
Endodontic infection is a biofilm disease that is difficult to irradicate with current treatment protocols, and as such, persistent micro-organisms may lead to ongoing or recurrent disease. The potential for the use of enhanced filling materials to modify biofilm regrowth is a promising strategy. This current study aimed to evaluate the anti-biofilm efficacy of calcium silicate cements modified with chitosan. The development of mono-species and multi-species biofilms on ProRoot MTA, Biodentine and bovine dentine discs were explored using quantitative microbiology analysis. The effect on regrowth of biofilms was assessed following the addition of chitosan to each cement. In comparison to a dentine substrate, both materials did not show the ability to inhibit biofilm regrowth. Biodentine incorporated with chitosan displayed a dose-dependent reduction in multi-species biofilm regrowth, unlike MTA. Notably, interkingdom biofilms were shown to enhance bacterial tolerance in the presence of chitosan. This study demonstrates the potential to enhance the antimicrobial properties of Biodentine. The findings highlight the need for appropriate model systems when exploring antimicrobial properties of materials in vitro so that interspecies and interkingdom interactions that modify tolerance are not overlooked while still supporting the development of innovative materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue In the Race against Polymicrobial Biofilms: Current Research and New Breakthroughs for the Clinic)
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