Going beyond the Control of Quorum-Sensing to Combat Biofilm Infections

Abstract

Most bacteria attach to surfaces where they form a biofilm, cells embedded in a complex matrix of polymers. Cells in biofilms are much better protected against noxious agents than free-living cells. As a consequence it is very difficult to control pathogens with antibiotics in biofilm infections and novel targets are urgently needed. One approach aims at the communication between cells to form and to maintain a biofilm, a process called quorum-sensing. Water soluble small-sized molecules mediate this process and a number of antagonists of these compounds have been found. In this review natural compounds and synthetic drugs which do not interfere with the classical quorum-sensing compounds are discussed. For some of these compounds the targets are still not known, but others interfere with the formation of exopolysaccharides, virulence factors, or cell wall synthesis or they start an internal program of biofilm dispersal. Some of their targets are more conserved among pathogens than the receptors for quorum sensing autoinducers mediating quorum-sensing, enabling a broader application of the drug. The broad spectrum of mechanisms, the diversity of bioactive compounds, their activity against several targets, and the conservation of some targets among bacterial pathogens are promising aspects for several clinical applications of this type of biofilm-controlling compound in the future.

1. Pathogens in Biofilms Are Well Protected against Antibiotics and the Immune System

Most bacteria attach to surfaces and interfaces where they form a biofilm [1]. Here they are embedded in a complex matrix of polymeric substances which allow the formation of micro-niches and the maintenance of steep chemical gradients. Biofilm formation is a major problem in human health and all implants but also mucosa, e.g., in the cystic fibrosis lung, are prone to colonization by pathogens [2]. If pathogens are present in such biofilms we are dealing with an infection which is difficult to cure. Often antibiotics, even in high doses, do not eradicate the infection and for far too many implants it means replacement of the implant with the hope that the new one will not become infected again. Biofilm infections cause prolonged suffering of the patients and even can lead to their death. These infections also cause high health costs worldwide, e.g., in the U.S. alone $5000 and $34,000 per infection and resulting in more than $5 billion in added medical costs per annum [3].

Forming biofilms is the answer of micro-organisms to hostile environments. The optimal protection of the embedded cells against noxious agents, e.g., antibiotics and the immune system, is the main reason why biofilm infections are so difficult to treat. It has been found that for the eradication of pathogens from biofilms more than 1000 times higher antibiotic concentrations were required than for the same strain living in planktonic form in the serum [4]. The mechanisms of how the cells protect themselves against antibiotics are still not very well understood but several strategies seem to work hand in hand. Some reasons are: changes in gene expressions in biofilms compared to the planktonic cells, slower growing bacteria and with the reduced metabolic activity lower sensitivity against most antibiotics [5], degradation of antibiotics [6], and complexation of antibiotics by components of the biofilm matrix [7] or their active transport out of the cells [8].

2. Communication Mediated by Small Molecules Is Required for Biofilm Formation and Maintenance

To form a biofilm requires coordinated gene expression of the individual cells. It has been demonstrated for a still growing number of bacteria that a strategy, called quorum sensing, regulates this process [9]. The individual bacterial cell produces one or more low-molecular compounds which are transported out of the cell. At the same time the cell measures the concentration of this compound in the surrounding medium. If the cell is alone the produced compound simply diffuses into this medium and disappears. If, however, several cells produce a given compound, the concentration becomes significant. When a certain threshold of the exported compound is reached, the compound triggers in the cell a signaling cascade which leads to the induction of several genes. Because this induction in the cell is caused by compounds produced by the same cell, such compounds are also called autoinducers. We know now a number of these autoinducers and acyl-homoserine lactones (AHL) 1–3 are probably the best studied class of them [10]. However, in addition, several more classes of autoinducers for quorum sensing are known, they are autoinducer-2 4, a boron-bearing compound [11], bradyoxetin 5 [12], several diketopiperazines, e.g., 25–26, farnesol 6 [13] (Figure 1), cis-2-alkenoic acids [14], e.g., 34–41, and a variety of peptides [15], e.g., 11–13, many of which are cyclic compounds [16].

Figure 1.

Some of the well studied autoinducers mediating quorum-sensing in bacteria and fungi.

These autoinducers, however, do not only coordinate individual cells to initiate biofilm formation. Autoinducers have also an important role in the maintenance of already established biofilms. In most biofilms not a single bacterial species but microbial communities of pathogens and non-pathogens grow together [17]. Here, some autoinducers also function in the communication between different species. Because of these roles autoinducers for quorum sensing are an important target for the control of biofilm infections. Numerous studies have shown that inhibiting the production of these autoinducers or blocking their receptor proteins lead to thinner and less structured biofilms which are much easier destroyed by the immune system. Hence, blocking quorum sensing became an important target for the search of biofilm modulating compounds [18]. For the majority of the studied species not only one but several autoinducers have been detected, produced in varying amounts, probably for fine-tuning of the cellular responses [19]. This, however, sets high standards for drugs to block quorum sensing effectively and reliably.

3. Interfering with the Communication between Microbial Cells Weakens Biofilms

3.1. Blocking Quorum Sensing

The communication of the individual cells is essential for the formation of biofilms, therefore, blocking this process is an important goal for the control of biofilm infections. Here, first a very brief overview on quorum sensing inhibition is given and then the focus is on compounds modulating biofilms beyond a mere quorum sensing interference. Probably because quorum sensing based on acyl-homoserine lactones is still the most studied quorum sensing system a large number of compounds, antagonistic to acyl-homoserine lactones, have been reported [20,21], e.g., the synthetic furanone 7 derived from natural compounds produced by the red macroalga Delisea pulchra [22]. Several of them were derived from acyl-homoserine lactones but even more were found in large chemical libraries and subsequent optimization of the hits obtained from their high-throughput screening [23]. Interesting is that a number of well known natural compounds from food, e.g., eugenol 8 [24], curcumin 9 [25], and ajoene 10 from garlic [26], can also block receptors of acyl-homoserine lactones. It is tempting to speculate that preferences in food may also be a factor for the susceptibility of individuals to biofilm infections leading directly into the field of functional food.

Staphylococcus species form biofilms and are important pathogens in the clinic. Finding antagonists for their cyclic peptides mediating biofilm formation is therefore an attractive goal [27]. One of these compounds is the peptide RIP 14 [28], others, e.g., FS3 15 [29] or FS8 16 (Figure 2), were found after further optimization [30].

Figure 2.

Antagonist of autoinducers of quorum-sensing competing with acyl-homoserine lactones, autoinducer-2 or autoinducer peptides (AIP) of Staphylococcus aureus.

Contrary to acyl-homoserine lactones autoinducer-2 mediates quorum sensing not only within the same species but also between different, phylogenetically only distantly related species. Intervention in this communication could give a handle to control biofilm communities as has recently been demonstrated for the gut microbiota in an animal model [31]. When a series of analogs were tested for their inhibition of the autoinducer-2 signaling pathway only butyl- and isobutyl-4,5-dihydroxy-2,3-pentanedione 17 and 18 showed this inhibition both in Escherichia coli and in Salmonella typhimurium [32]. A similar effect was also found for cinnamic aldehyde 19 [33,34]. Cinnamic aldehyde is natural product found in many food products and its activity underlines again the notion that several organisms produce compounds which may help them to control biofilms.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a biofilm forming pathogen which causes many infections and it is difficult to control because of antibiotic resistance when organized in biofilms. P. aeruginosa utilizes several quorum sensing systems, one of them is mediated by the unique and species-specific Pseudomonas Quinolone Signal PQS 22. Not many compounds antagonizing PQS have been described, some of them are 2-heptyl-4-hydroxy-6-nitro-quinoline 24 [35] or the ureidothiophene-2-carboxylic acid 23 [36] (Figure 3).

Figure 3.

Structures of the Pseudomonas quinolone signal (PQS) 22 and two of its recently found inhibitors.

There are several reports which question the effect of reported quorum quenching compounds. When assessing the results of quorum quenching studies one should be aware that the majority of these studies have been done using reporter strains. The reported results can only be compared if standardized control experiments have been done and the toxicity of the tested compounds on the reporter organism has been determined. For a number of reports it is not completely clear whether this is an effect caused by inhibition of quorum sensing or simply by the antibiotic effect of the compounds under study [37].

3.2. Multiple Interferences of Quorum Sensing Inhibitors with Biofilm Formation

Using reporter strains for the detection of quorum sensing inhibition allows high-throughput screening of large compound libraries. Quorum sensing, however, is only one of the characteristics of biofilms and the aim is not the interruption of cell-cell communication per se but the prevention of biofilm formation or the dispersal of already established biofilms. The latter is usually the aim in medicine where patients have already developed well established biofilms before showing any clinical symptoms. Therefore, compounds are discussed here in more detail showing effects beyond inhibition of the various quorum sensing cascades.

It has been reported that a number of cyclic dipeptides, produced by many organisms [38], have an effect on biofilm formation. Holden et al., demonstrated that cyclo(l-Val-l-Pro) 25 can activate the homoserine lactone biosensor although considerable higher concentrations are needed than for the natural homoserine lactone [39]. Campbell synthesized several cyclic dipeptides and tested this library against a Vibrio fischeri reporter strain but could not confirm these results. However, the synthetic cyclo(l-4-iodo-Phe-l-Pro) 27 and cyclo(l-4-chloro-Phe-l-Pro) 28 were inhibitors of quorum sensing mediated luminescence and cyclo(l-4-chloro-Phe-d-Pro) 29 and cyclo(l-Trp-l-Pro) 30 were moderate inhibitors [40]. For other cyclic dipeptides also quorum quenching both in Gram-positive and -negative bacteria has been reported. Cyclo(l-Tyr-l-Pro) 31 and cyclo(d-Ala-l-Val) 32 reduced colony expansion in a strain of Serratia liquefaciens [41]. Lactobacillus reuteri produces cyclo(l-Phe-l-Pro) 25 and cyclo(l-Tyr-l-Pro) 31 which strongly inhibit quorum sensing in Staphylococcus aureus [42] and from a marine Penicillium sp. cyclo(l-Tyr-l-Leu) 33 (Figure 4) has been isolated inhibiting biofilm formation of Staphylococcus epidermidis [43]. These somewhat contradicting results shed some doubts on the role of cyclic dipeptides as quorum sensing mediators. However, they also make it very likely that cyclic dipeptides act in interspecies communications because these compounds have been detected in many organisms.

Figure 4.

A number of bioactive cyclic dipeptides have been described; some of them also seem to have a role in quorum-sensing. From these compounds inhibitors have been developed. Many of these compounds mediate interspecies interactions.

Looking only for inhibition of receptors of the autoinducers may be misleading because some compounds have more than one target in the biofilm. As already mentioned, curcumin 9 inhibits quorum sensing by blocking AHL-sensors [44] but this is not the only effect curcumin has on cells organized in biofilms. This natural product also inhibits sortase A in Streptococcus mutans, a membrane-localized transpeptidase possessing an important role in adherence that has been associated with cariogenicity [45,46]. It remains to be determined whether the consumption of curry or food colored with curcumin, has an influence on biofilm formation and on oral health of the consumers.

3.3. Dispersal of Biofilms

To form a biofilm gives the bacteria protection and allows the production of virulence factors. However, a biofilm can also be a trap for the inhabitants when conditions become unfavorable. To overcome this problem most microbes developed strategies to dissolve their biofilms and allow the embedded cells to move to more convenient sites. Regarding the fact that biofilms have already been established when clinical symptoms are shown, using these biofilm dissolving strategies would be of high priority to combat biofilm infections. Nitric oxide is produced by nitrite reductases in the biofilm to induce dispersal [47,48]. This has been observed for a wide range of pathogens, e.g., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Vibrio cholera, Neisseria gonorrhoeae [49], and Staphylococcus aureus [50] but also in multispecies biofilms [51] and even in fungi [52]. These findings indicate that this mode of dispersion is rather widespread. Although it is tempting to use NO for the control of biofilm infections one has to be aware that increased NO concentrations have also a number of side effects, e.g., immunosuppression, inhibition of angiogenesis [53] or even cytotoxicity via nitrosylation of proteins [54]. This has been confirmed in a clinical study involving treatment of patients with cystic fibrosis with NO gas [55]. One way to overcome these problems is the delivery of NO on site without flushing the whole organism with this reactive compound. For this purpose diazeniumdiolates have been developed which can be used as a pro-drug or embedded in polymers for the protection of implants [56]. A very sophisticated variation of this approach is the coupling of diazeniumdiolates to cephalosporin from where it is released by bacterial β-lactamases [57]. For the local protection of implants from colonization by biofilms, several NO-releasing polymers have been designed, e.g., dendrimers [58] or sol-gels [59]. However, when considering the application of these materials in implants one should keep in mind that the release of NO should dissolve evolving biofilms but the concentration should be kept low enough not to hinder the regeneration of host cells. The field of NO-application in pro-drugs is wide and still under development [60].

When exposed to spent medium, biofilms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa dispersed. The compound triggering this reaction was identified as cis-2-decenoic acid 34 [61] (Figure 5). Similar cis-2-alkenoic acids have been isolated from Xanthomonas campestris, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, and Burkholderia species and this class of compounds is termed diffusible signaling factors (DSF). In general, considerably higher activities have been observed for the cis-2-alkenoic acids compared to their saturated analogues.DSFs have a number of effects in the cells but they also mediate interspecies interactions. cis-2-Dodecenoic acid 37 increases in Burkholderia cenocepacia motility and biofilm formation but also virulence [62]. Interestingly, the AHL-quorum sensing system and that of DSF seem to interact [63]. Comparative transcriptome analysis in Pseudomonas aeruginosa demonstrated a large number of genes being differently regulated by cis-2-decenoic acid 34 [64], however, a clear pattern explaining the altered phenotype could not be deduced from these experiments. From the opportunistic pathogen Stenotrophomonas maltophila several fatty acids (35–36, 38–41) have been identified which facilitate movement of its cells [65] and mediate the communication between Stenotrophomonas maltophila and the pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The fatty acids produced by S. maltophila increase the tolerance to cationic antimicrobial peptides in P. aeruginosa [66]. Interestingly, 12-methyl-tetradecanoic acid 42, not found in Stenotrophomonas maltophila, blocked swarming motility completely at 10 µg·mL⁻¹ in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and led to reduced biofilm formation by 31% [67]. Another DSF, cis-2-dodecenoic acid 37, enabled bacteria-fungus interaction as was shown between Burkholderia cenocepacia and Candida albicans [68]. The same fatty acid down-regulates biofilm formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and inhibits its type-III secretion system [69].

Figure 5.

Many cis-2-alkenoyl acids mediate the communication between different species but cis-2-decenoic acid has been found to trigger the process of biofilm dispersal in several species including Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The biosyntheses of the DSFs is not yet fully understood. In Pseudomonas aeruginosa the involvement of the putative enoyl-coenzyme A hydratase DspI, showing significant homologies to the protein RpfF of Xanthomonas campestris, has been identified [70]. cis-2-Dodecenoic acid 37 of Burkholderia cenocepacia is synthesized from the acyl carrier protein (ACP) thioester of 3-hydroxydodecanoic acid which is then converted by the enzyme RpfF first to cis-2-dodecenoyl-ACP. However, RpfF catalyzes not only dehydration of 3-hydroxydodecanoyl-ACP to cis-2-dodecenoyl-ACP but also cleaves the thioester to release the free acid [71].

The best understanding of the mechanism of action has been achieved for X. campestrensis. Here, synthesis and perception of DSF require products of the rpf gene cluster (for regulation of pathogenicity factors). Similar gene clusters have also been found in many but not all DSFs producing bacteria. The sensor kinase RpfC of Xanthomonas campestris, anchored in the cytoplasmic membrane, consists of a membrane spanning sensory domain, a histidine kinase domain, an ATP kinase binding domain, followed by a receiver domain, and a histidine phosphotransfer domain. After binding of DSF the histidine kinase domain is autophosphorylated requiring ATP. The phosphorelay signalling then leads to the phosphorylation of the cyclic di-GMP phosphodiesterase RpfG causing changes in the cyclic di-GMP level in the cell which in turn affects, e.g., the synthesis of virulence factors or causes biofilm dispersal [72]. The sensor kinase RpfR of Burkholderia cenocepacia becomes a potent c-di-GMP phosphodiesterase leading to the control of several but not all DSF-influenced genes [73]. Analysis of 82 Stenotrophomonas maltophilia clinical isolates, revealed the presence of two distinct classes of rpfC-rpfF genes. Only one class was able to form DSF while the other one seemed to permanently repress DSF-formation demonstrating that DSF-signaling is not essential for infection [74].

Because of their ability to disperse existing biofilms DSFs are receiving growing attention. They have also been reported to increase metabolic activity and restore antimicrobial susceptibility of persister cells [75], both important conditions for the control of biofilm infections. In another study, the inhibition of rhamnolipid synthesis and biofilm formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa by 2-bromoalkanoic acids was evaluated. Here stronger effects of 2-bromohexanoic acid compared to 2-bromooctanoic acid were observed, while 2-bromodecanoic acid showed the weakest effect [76]. It should be generally stated here that for rigorous assessment of results we need standardized protocols to avoid contradicting findings, e.g., Davies et al., reported dispersion of S. aureus biofilms with 10 nM of cis-2-decenoic acid but Su et al., needed about 200 µM to achieve this effect [77].

3.4. Other Ways of Biofilm Prevention or Dispersal

The triterpene ursolic acid 43 (Figure 6) inhibits biofilm formation at 10 μg·ml^-1 in Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Vibrio harveyi but it does not act via quorum sensing, as has been demonstrated with the V. harveyi reporter system [78]. Ursolic acid also inhibited methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) biofilm formation but had no effect on established biofilms, whereas resveratrol 46 inhibited MRSA biofilm formation and could partially remove established biofilms. RNA-Seq-based transcriptome analysis of MRSA biofilm inhibition by ursolic acid and resveratrol revealed two different mechanisms. While ursolic acid inhibited biofilm formation by reducing amino acids metabolism and adhesin expressions resveratrol disturbed quorum sensing and the synthesis of surface proteins and capsular polysaccharides [79]. The closely related asiatic acid 44 and corosolic acid 45 are even more effective and they also increase the susceptibility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to antibiotics [80].

Figure 6.

A number of natural products and their derivatives have been found to prevent the formation of biofilms or to disperse established ones but their mechanisms of action are still unknown.

Following the hypothesis that the majority of all higher organisms have developed strategies to protect themselves against biofilm infections the protection mechanisms of ticks (Rhipicephalus microplus) were investigated. It was observed that their eggs were not infected by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and from tick eggs’ extract the cholesterol derivative boophiline 47 was isolated. Boophiline was found to be a weak antibiotic but it had not yet been connected to biofilms [81]. A detailed study on the effect of boophiline on Pseudomonas aeruginosa revealed that it did not interfere with the quorum sensing circuits of the pathogens. Instead, strong inhibitions of the expression of cdrA (an adhesin, required as biofilm scaffold) and fliC (flagellin, required as flagellar filament) were found. The bactericidal effect was observed for Staphylococcus epidermidis and related Gram-positive bacteria [82]. These observations point to different targets of the molecule enabling the inhibition of biofilm formation by a broad variety of bacteria.

The alkaloid oroidin 48, discovered in the sponge Agelas oroides [83], was shown to modulate biofilm formation of a number of bacteria [84]. There seems to be no report on the mode of action of this compound to biofilms. Taking oroidin as a lead, several bioactive compounds have been synthesized and evaluated for their inhibition of biofilm formation [85]. The sulphonamide 50, the urea 51, and the thiourea 52 analogues were demonstrated to inhibit selectively P. aeruginosa biofilm formation, while being nontoxic to Caenorhabditis elegans [86]. The derivatives 53 and 54 were both active against biofilm formation of the pathogens Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14, and Bordetella bronchiseptica [87]. Inhibition by oroidin derivatives was observed not only for Gram-negative but also for Gram-positive bacteria biofilm. The conformational constrained indole-based analogue of oridin 49 was active against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus mutans and suppressed biofilm formation in the lower micromolar range [88]. One of the most active compounds was the N-methylated derivative 55 of dihydro-oridin. Maybe some light can be shed on the mode of action of these compounds by their activity against Porphyromonas gingivalis. P. gingivalis, one of the central organisms in periodontal disease, which binds to the primary colonizer Streptococcus gordonii. Three small molecules derived from oroidin and containing 2-aminoimidazole or 2-aminobenzimidazole moieties inhibited binding of P. gingivalis to S. gordonii by reducing expression of fimbrial adhesins, necessary for P. gingivalis adhesion to S. gordonii [89].

Zosteric acid 21 has been reported to reduce biofilm formation of the bacteria Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa [90] and the fungi Aspergillus niger, Penicillium citrinum, and Candida albicans [91]. An increased flagellin amount in E. coli leading to increased formation of flagella has been identified as one of the mechanisms. This is probably the reaction of the cells to a stress condition caused by zosteric acid [92]. Screening of a small library of zosteric derivatives showed that cinnamic acid 20, lacking the p-sulfoxy-moiety, was even more active. Using an E. coli protein pull-down approach the enzyme NADH: quinone dehydrogenase was identified as the target molecule for these compounds. This is a tetrameric flavoprotein with a hydrophobic active site pocket which is most likely the interaction site for these cinnamic acids [93].

Pseudomonas putida produces promysalin 56 which acts only against some Pseudomonas species, among them the pathogen P. aeruginosa [94]. A recent study demonstrated that promysalin acts as a biosurfactant on established biofilms but it also suppresses the production of the virulence factor pyoverdine [95]. The mere action as a biosurfactant is probably not sufficient to explain the remarkable species-selectivity of the compound and the underlying mechanism remains to be discovered.

All higher organisms have to deal with biofilm infections and they have developed a multitude of mechanisms to control biofilm communities. These examples of natural compounds acting beyond the simple competition for the receptors of the known quorum sensing autoinducers demonstrate that there is a vast and still poorly explored field of targets for biofilm control. However, the examples show that several of these compounds have more than one target and the transition between biofilm control vs. antibiotic vs. pathoblocker [96] seems to be smooth. To find these compounds one has to leave screening with genetic constructs which focus only on the inhibition of acyl-homoserine lactone- or AI-2 receptors and one has to go instead to less specific screens.

3.5. Combinations with Antibiotics

Dissolving an existing biofilm may be sufficient to allow clearance of its inhabiting pathogens by the immune system. However, for an inefficient or overloaded immune system of a patient the release of pathogens from biofilms may even have a detrimental effect turning an infection from a chronic to an acute state and fostering the production of virulence factors [97]. Because most biofilm-dissolving drugs do not kill the bacteria their combination with antibiotics is a logical consequence. Rasmussen et al., tested patulin in Pseudomonas aeruginosa as an antagonist of acylhomoserine lactone. While patulin had no effect on the survival of P. aeruginosa cells in the bofilm and treatment of the biofilm with the antibiotic tobramycin could kill only few cells, the combination of patulin and tobramycin led to severe killing of the cells [98]. The RNA-II inhibiting peptide FS 8 16 reduced the formation of biofilms and virulence factors of Staphylococcus aureus but did not kill the pathogen. The combination of this quorum-quenching compound with the antibiotic tigecycline in a rat model, however, increased the sensitivity of S. aureus four-fold compared to tigecycline alone [30].

Biofilms of Pseudomonas auroginosa can be dissolved by cis-2-decenoic acid 34 but the bacteria are not killed. When pre-established biofilms of Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Salmonella enterica or Escherichia coli were treated with desinfectants or antibiotics only moderate reductions in living cells were achieved. The addition of only 310 nM cis-2-decenoic acid to these toxins caused a significant increase of cell eradication, e.g., for S. aureus and ciprofloxacin it increased from 11% for the antibiotic alone to 87% for the combination [99]. Similar observations have been made for other bacteria, e.g., Mycobacterium smegmatis, Neisseria subflava or Bacillus thuringiensis [100] or in mixed biofilms containing the pathogen Klebsiella pneumonia [101]. Against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or Acinetobacter baumannii 4,5-disubstituted-2-aminoimidazole-triazole conjugates were developed which inhibited their biofilm formation. When combined with antibiotics they also re-sensitized the pathogens for eradication with these antibiotics [77].

4. The Long Way to Go

Often it has been argued that biofilm-interfering compounds will not lead to the development of resistances in the pathogens because preventing or dispersing biofilms is not lethal for the microbes [102]. Although such a notion is probably correct in some aspects it should be kept in mind that formation of biofilms is a protection mechanism against a hostile environment. Microorganisms which are capable in forming biofilms have an advantage against those living always in the planktonic form. This will cause some selective pressure towards biofilm-formers although the pressure will be probably less than for the evasion from killing by antibiotics [103].

Currently, the often high specificity of quorum quenching drugs limits their application [104], especially against microbial communities. Sometimes even closely related species do not respond to these drugs, dramatically increasing the chances for failure of such a treatment. The consequence is that compounds with such limited spectra against pathogens may not find their way into the market. Beside a sufficiently broad specificity of the drug, its stability within the biofilm matrix will become an issue. From many studies it is known that gene expression is largely altered in biofilms and this also includes enzymes which may act as potential degraders of the drug in question [105].

For the application of an anti-biofilm compound it is not only important that it is active against the pathogen but also that it does not do any damage to the host. Sadly, for some of the reported compounds this aspect has been ignored but for the evaluation of a novel drug the assessment of its cytotoxicity is mandatory [106]. Biocompatibility is an issue for drugs applied for the prevention of biofilms on implants. This can be done by testing their effects on dedicated cells [107] or by applying them in animal experiments. Local drug release [108] may be an attractive option especially for biofilm-preventing compounds on implants. It concentrates the drug to the site of the implantation but it requires the control of the release in order to avoid toxic concentrations. When Rawson et al., tested biofilm modulating compounds for their influence on osteoblast differentiation they found cis-2-decenoic acid 34 biocompatible but farnesol 6 induced cytotoxic responses within their biofilm inhibitory concentrations [109]. Many different approaches are nowadays available to achieve controlled drug release.

5. Conclusions

Biofilms have complex and dynamic structures mostly composed of several microbial species. The complexity of biofilms helps them to survive under harsh conditions but it also offers a multitude of approaches for their control. To prevent or to cure biofilm infections the main focus has been set to quorum-sensing. Screening for quorum-quenching compounds can nowadays be done in high-throughput screenings because several assays targeting the formation of autoinducers or their receptors are available. However, the entire mechanism for quorum-sensing is known only for a small number of pathogens and we still know very little about interspecies cross-talks. This article had the intention to show that many organisms have developed compounds which interfere with biofilms and many do this outside the known quorum-sensing circuits. Because these natural compounds have a variety of targets or their targets are even not yet known, screening for these bioactive compounds is more laborious and slower. The reward for such an effort, however, is the discovery of new targets and new mechanisms as have been highlighted for cis-2-decenoic acid 34, ursolic acid 43 or boophiline 47, only to mention a few. Some of the compounds so discovered have several targets allowing the control of a broader spectrum of pathogens. It is certainly not a risk to predict that in the coming years, novel mechanisms of biofilm dispersal or blocking of antibiotic resistance in biofilms will be uncovered. Combining these biofilm controlling compounds with established or novel antibiotics will add another dimension to the treatment of biofilm infections.

Author Contributions

The author selected the references, developed the concept, wrote the manuscript and drew the figures.

Conflicts of Interest

The author declares no conflict of interest.