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Appl. Environ. Microbiol. doi:10.1128/AEM.01310-08
Copyright (c) 2008, American Society for Microbiology and/or the Listed Authors/Institutions. All Rights Reserved.

Inactivation of efflux pumps abolishes bacterial biofilm formation

Microbial Adhesion Group, Department of Systems Biology, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. Email: pkl{at}bio.dtu.dk.

	Abstract

Bacterial biofilms cause numerous problems in health care and industry, notably biofilms are associated with a large number of infections. Biofilm-dwelling bacteria are particularly resistant to antibiotics, making it hard to eradicate biofilm-associated infections. Bacteria rely on efflux pumps to get rid of toxic substances. We have discovered that efflux pumps are highly active in bacterial biofilms, thus making efflux pumps attractive targets for anti-biofilm measures. A number of efflux pump inhibitors (EPIs) are known. EPIs were shown to reduce biofilm formation and in combination they could abolish biofilm formation completely. Also, EPIs were able to block antibiotic tolerance of biofilms. The results from this feasibility study might pave the way for new treatments for biofilm-related infections and may be exploited for biofilm prevention in general.