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Antibiotics
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Molecular Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in Microbial Biofilms
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Molecular Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in Microbial Biofilms

A special issue of Antibiotics (ISSN 2079-6382). This special issue belongs to the section "Antibiofilm Strategies".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2025 | Viewed by 5132

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Patricia Pérez-Palacios

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena, Sevilla, Spain
Interests: antibiotic resistance; Enterobacterales; carbapenemase

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to invite you to a Special Issue of Antibiotics named Molecular Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in Microbial Biofilms. This Special Issue will collect all knowledge relating the molecular mechanism in biofilm resistance. Biofilms, as complex bacterial structures, have implications for the clinical and microbiological diagnosis of infections that are not straightforward, and treatment failures and recurrences are common. Studying new molecules that are more effective against these structures, as well as understanding the resistance mechanisms that occur under these specific conditions, is very important as bacterial biofilms protect bacteria from external physical and chemical changes.

Dr. Patricia Pérez-Palacios
Guest Editor

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

  • biofilms
  • antibiotic resistance
  • resistance mechanisms

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 3984 KiB  
Article
Impact of Nutrient Starvation on Biofilm Formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa: An Analysis of Growth, Adhesion, and Spatial Distribution
by Laura Maria De Plano, Manuela Caratozzolo, Sabrina Conoci, Salvatore P. P. Guglielmino and Domenico Franco
Antibiotics 2024, 13(10), 987; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics13100987 - 18 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1093
Abstract
Objectives: This study investigates the impact of nutrient availability on the growth, adhesion, and biofilm formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 under static conditions. Methods: Bacterial behaviour was evaluated in nutrient-rich Luria–Bertani (LB) broth and nutrient-limited M9 media, specifically lacking carbon (M9-C), nitrogen [...] Read more.
Objectives: This study investigates the impact of nutrient availability on the growth, adhesion, and biofilm formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 under static conditions. Methods: Bacterial behaviour was evaluated in nutrient-rich Luria–Bertani (LB) broth and nutrient-limited M9 media, specifically lacking carbon (M9-C), nitrogen (M9-N), or phosphorus (M9-P). Bacterial adhesion was analysed microscopically during the transition from reversible to irreversible attachment (up to 120 min) and during biofilm production/maturation stages (up to 72 h). Results: Results demonstrated that LB and M9 media supported bacterial growth, whereas nutrient-starved conditions halted growth, with M9-C and M9-N inducing stationary phases and M9-P leading to cell death. Fractal analysis was employed to characterise the spatial distribution and complexity of bacterial adhesion patterns, revealing that nutrient-limited conditions affected both adhesion density and biofilm architecture, particularly in M9-C. In addition, live/dead staining confirmed a higher proportion of dead cells in M9-P over time (at 48 and 72 h). Conclusions: This study highlights how nutrient starvation influences biofilm formation and bacterial dispersion, offering insights into the survival strategies of P. aeruginosa in resource-limited environments. These findings should contribute to a better understanding of biofilm dynamics, with implications for managing biofilm-related infections and industrial biofouling. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in Microbial Biofilms)
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13 pages, 1452 KiB  
Article
Drinking Water and Biofilm as Sources of Antimicrobial Resistance in Free-Range Organic Broiler Farms
by Alessandra Piccirillo, Roberta Tolosi, Lapo Mughini-Gras, Jannigje G. Kers and Andrea Laconi
Antibiotics 2024, 13(9), 808; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics13090808 - 26 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1071
Abstract
Drinking water distribution systems (DWDSs) represent an ideal environment for biofilm formation, which can harbor pathogenic and antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. This study aimed to assess longitudinally the microbial community composition and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), as determined by 16S rRNA NGS and qPCR, respectively, in [...] Read more.
Drinking water distribution systems (DWDSs) represent an ideal environment for biofilm formation, which can harbor pathogenic and antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. This study aimed to assess longitudinally the microbial community composition and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), as determined by 16S rRNA NGS and qPCR, respectively, in drinking water (DW) and biofilm from DWDSs, as well as faeces, of free-range organic broiler farms. The role of DWDSs in AMR gene (ARG) dissemination within the farm environment and transmission to animals, was also assessed. DW and biofilm microbial communities differed from those of faecal samples. Moreover, potentially pathogenic and opportunistic bacteria (e.g., Staphylococcaceae) were identified in water and biofilms. High prevalence and abundance of ARGs conferring resistance to carbapenems (i.e., blaNDM), 3rd and 4th generation cephalosporins (i.e., blaCMY-2), (fluoro)quinolones (i.e., qnrS), and polymyxins (i.e., mcr-3 and mcr-5) were detected in DW, biofilm, and faecal samples, which is of concern for both animal and human health. Although other factors (e.g., feed, pests, and wildlife) may contribute to the dissemination of AMR in free-range organic poultry farms, this study indicates that DWDSs can also play a role. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in Microbial Biofilms)
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18 pages, 4197 KiB  
Article
Essential Oils from Southern Italian Aromatic Plants Synergize with Antibiotics against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterococcus faecalis Cell Growth and Biofilm Formation
by Giada Sena, Elisabetta De Rose, Michele Crudo, Gianfranco Filippelli, Giuseppe Passarino, Dina Bellizzi and Patrizia D’Aquila
Antibiotics 2024, 13(7), 605; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics13070605 - 28 Jun 2024
Viewed by 1216
Abstract
The spread of antibiotic-resistant pathogens has prompted the development of novel approaches to identify molecules that synergize with antibiotics to enhance their efficacy. This study aimed to investigate the effects of ten Essential Oils (EOs) on the activity of nine antibiotics in influencing [...] Read more.
The spread of antibiotic-resistant pathogens has prompted the development of novel approaches to identify molecules that synergize with antibiotics to enhance their efficacy. This study aimed to investigate the effects of ten Essential Oils (EOs) on the activity of nine antibiotics in influencing growth and biofilm formation in Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterococcus faecalis. The effects of the EOs alone and in combination with antibiotics on both bacterial growth and biofilm formation were analyzed by measuring the MIC values through the broth microdilution method and the crystal violet assay, respectively. All EOs inhibited the growth of E. coli (1.25 ≤ MIC ≤ 5 mg/mL) while the growth of P. aeruginosa and E. faecalis was only affected by EOs from Origanum vulgare, (MIC = 5 mg/mL) and O. vulgare (MIC = 1.25 mg/mL) and Salvia rosmarinus (MIC = 5 mg/mL), respectively. In E. coli, most EOs induced a four- to sixteen-fold reduction in the MIC values of ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone, gentamicin, and streptomycin, while in E. faecalis such a reduction is observed in combinations of ciprofloxacin with C. nepeta, C. bergamia, C. limon, C. reticulata, and F. vulgare, of gentamicin with O. vulgare, and of tetracycline with C. limon and O. vulgare. A smaller effect was observed in P. aeruginosa, in which only C. bergamia reduced the concentration of tetracycline four-fold. EO-antibiotic combinations also inhibit the biofilm formation. More precisely, all EOs with ciprofloxacin in E. coli, tetracycline in P. aeruginosa, and gentamicin in E. faecalis showed the highest percentage of inhibition. Combinations induce up- and down-methylation of cytosines and adenines compared to EO or antibiotics alone. The study provides evidence about the role of EOs in enhancing the action of antibiotics by influencing key processes involved in resistance mechanisms such as biofilm formation and epigenetic changes. Synergistic interactions should be effectively considered in dealing with pathogenic microorganisms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in Microbial Biofilms)
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Review

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27 pages, 871 KiB  
Review
Quorum Quenching Approaches against Bacterial-Biofilm-Induced Antibiotic Resistance
by Patrizia D’Aquila, Elisabetta De Rose, Giada Sena, Angelo Scorza, Bonaventura Cretella, Giuseppe Passarino and Dina Bellizzi
Antibiotics 2024, 13(7), 619; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics13070619 - 3 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1307
Abstract
With the widespread phenomenon of antibiotic resistance and the diffusion of multiple drug-resistant bacterial strains, enormous efforts are being conducted to identify suitable alternative agents against pathogenic microorganisms. Since an association between biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance phenotype has been observed, a promising [...] Read more.
With the widespread phenomenon of antibiotic resistance and the diffusion of multiple drug-resistant bacterial strains, enormous efforts are being conducted to identify suitable alternative agents against pathogenic microorganisms. Since an association between biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance phenotype has been observed, a promising strategy pursued in recent years focuses on controlling and preventing this formation by targeting and inhibiting the Quorum Sensing (QS) system, whose central role in biofilm has been extensively demonstrated. Therefore, the research and development of Quorum Quenching (QQ) compounds, which inhibit QS, has gradually attracted the attention of researchers and has become a new strategy for controlling harmful microorganisms. Among these, a number of both natural and synthetic compounds have been progressively identified as able to interrupt the intercellular communication within a microbial community and the adhesion to a surface, thus disintegrating mature/preformed biofilms. This review describes the role played by QS in the formation of bacterial biofilms and then focuses on the mechanisms of different natural and synthetic QS inhibitors (QSIs) exhibiting promising antibiofilm ability against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial pathogens and on their applications as biocontrol strategies in various fields. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in Microbial Biofilms)
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