Prevention of Microbial Communities: Novel Approaches Based Natural Products

Abstract

Firmly attached to different living or non-living, solid or fluid surfaces rich in nutrients and moisture, microbial biofilm is a matter of great interest due to its major importance for the healthcare community. Depending on common strategies such as mutual protection and hibernation (quiescent bacteria), the resistance, survival and virulence of microbial communities have large implications for human pathology, clinical environment and biomedical devices. The microbial biofilm is continuously changing, stimulating inflammation, increasing vascular permeability and preventing the action of macrophages. About 80% of human infections affecting the gastrointestinal, genitourinary and respiratory systems, oral mucosa and teeth, eyes, middle ear and skin are caused by biofilm-associated microorganisms. Therefore, the search for modern strategies is even more important as microbial biofilms resistant to conventional antibiotics, antiseptics and disinfectants are involved in the frequent treatment failures of some chronic inflammatory diseases and wounds. Natural products containing secondary metabolites, such as aromatic compounds, sulphurated derivatives, terpenoids (essential oils) and alkaloids as quorum-sensing inhibitors and biofilm disruptors, are promising alternatives for the prophylaxis and treatment of chronic infections. Surface modification of medical devices with non-polar functionalized nanoparticles stabilizes the natural compounds antibiofilm activity and inhibits microbial adhesion and biofilm formation and growth for a longer period of time. In this regard, an interdisciplinary approach is needed due to the large number of natural derivatives alone or in combination with biocompatible and biodegradable micro-/ nano-engineered materials.

Prevention, removal and inactivation ofEscherichia coliandStaphylococcus aureusbiofilms using selected monoterpenes of essential oils

“…Bacteria with such damaged cell membranes (also OM in the case of Gram‐negative) can lose their ability to attach to the substratum and form biofilms (Mogosanu et al . ).…”

“…Indeed, the disruption of the cell membranes and embedded proteins is recognized as the main target of EOs and their components (Dorman and Deans 2000). Bacteria with such damaged cell membranes (also OM in the case of Gram-negative) can lose their ability to attach to the substratum and form biofilms (Mogosanu et al 2015).…”

“…Biofilm‐associated bacteria are particularly problematic because they can withstand host defences, antimicrobials and other stresses more easily than the analogous free‐living bacteria (Mogosanu et al . ; Rabin et al . ).…”

“…Biofilm-associated bacteria are particularly problematic because they can withstand host defences, antimicrobials and other stresses more easily than the analogous free-living bacteria (Mogosanu et al 2015;Rabin et al 2015). In fact, it has been observed that they can be 10-1000 times less susceptible to antimicrobials (Donlan and Costerton 2002;Davies 2003).…”

Anti-Inflammatory, Anti-Nociceptive and Antipyretic Potential of Terminalia Citrina Fruit Extracts

“…Nature provides us food and remedies for most of the diseases the mankind suffers from, in the form of plants, herbs and microbes with fewer side effects (D Mogosanu, 2015;El Gharras, 2009;Reegan, 2015). Although progress in dosage form development provides more effective alternatives, however, various communities in South Asia use medicinal plants for curing their diseases Bhaskar & Balakrishnan, 2009;Szabo, 2010).…”