@article {pmid42749075,
year = {2026},
author = {Ding, J and Shi, Y and Zou, H and Zheng, L and Zhu, W},
title = {Toward ecological realism in microplastic toxicology: Intestinal responses to biofilm-colonized microplastics from distinct environmental compartments in fish.},
journal = {Environmental research},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {125694},
doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2026.125694},
pmid = {42749075},
issn = {1096-0953},
abstract = {To accurately assess the ecological risks posed by real-world MPs, studies bridging microplastic (MP)-associated biofilms in different environmental compartments and their toxicological consequences are needed. This study investigated 50-week in-situ biofilm development on polyvinyl chloride, polylactic acid, and polyamide 66 (PA66) MPs across the water column and the sediment-water interface (SWI). During colonization in the selected river, the microbial community structures were primarily associated with environmental compartments rather than polymer types. By identifying the highest aging resistance during colonization, PA66 was selected as the model polymer to evaluate the subsequent intestinal toxicity in tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Tilapia were exposed to pristine, water-colonized, and SWI-colonized MPs for 14 days, followed by assessments of MP accumulation, gut function biomarkers, 16S gut microbiota profiling, and non-targeted metabolomics. Biofilm colonization increased intestinal MP accumulation by 27.8% (water-colonized) and 24.9% (SWI-colonized) relative to pristine PA66 in the gut, altered digestive enzyme activities, and was associated with compartment-specific gut microbiota dysbiosis and metabolic perturbations. Water-column conditioned MPs were primarily associated with indicators of altered mucosal-related taxa and glycometabolism, whereas SWI conditioning was associated with broader metabolic patterns consistent with oxidative stress and altered nucleotide metabolism. The results suggest that environmental compartment is associated with differences in biofilm-conditioned MP characteristics and biological responses. This study provides novel insights into the compartment-dependent ecological risks of biofilm-colonized MPs and contributes to advancing the paradigm shift toward ecological realism in MP risk assessments.},
}

@article {pmid42749409,
year = {2026},
author = {Ali, NAM and Mohammed, RK},
title = {Molecular insights into small RNA-mediated regulation of biofilm formation and multidrug resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa under zinc oxide nanoparticle exposure.},
journal = {Journal, genetic engineering & biotechnology},
volume = {24},
number = {3},
pages = {100729},
doi = {10.1016/j.jgeb.2026.100729},
pmid = {42749409},
issn = {2090-5920},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen with marked biofilm-forming capacity and increasing multidrug resistance, prompting the need for alternative antimicrobials. Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanomaterials exhibit antibacterial potential; however, their effects on small RNA-mediated regulation remain unclear.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities of biosynthesized ZnO and determine its effects at subinhibitory concentrations on selected small regulatory RNAs and biofilm-associated genes in clinical P. aeruginosa isolates.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty clinical isolates were identified and tested for antibiotic susceptibility and biofilm formation. The biosynthesized ZnO was characterized using UV-Vis, FTIR, EDX, FE-SEM, and AFM. The MIC and antibiofilm activity were evaluated using resazurin, broth microdilution, agar diffusion, and crystal violet assays. Three multidrug-resistant isolates underwent PCR and RT-qPCR analyses of ErsA, SrbA, amrZ, and algD after exposure to 12,500 and 25,000 μg/mL ZnO.

RESULTS: Among biofilm-forming isolates, 55% were strong, 33% moderate, and 11% weak producers; 88.8% of multidrug-resistant isolates showed strong or moderate biofilm formation. The ZnO nanoparticles had a mean diameter of 40.75 nm and MIC of 50,000 μg/mL. Significant biofilm inhibition occurred at 25,000 μg/mL (p = 0.039) and 50,000 μg/mL (p = 0.01) concentrations. The inhibition zones at 50,000 μg/mL were 16 ± 1.2 mm, 15 ± 1.0 mm, and 17 ± 1.1 mm for urine, burn, and wound isolates, respectively. Gene expression analysis revealed source-dependent transcriptional responses: urine isolates showed marked upregulation of SrbA (58.89-fold) and algD (43.71-fold), indicating pre-adaptation to environmental stressors, while wound isolates exhibited predominantly downregulation of biofilm-associated genes. Burn isolates displayed a biphasic response, with stress pathway activation at 1/4 MIC but gene suppression at 1/2 MIC.

CONCLUSION: Biosynthesized ZnO exerts concentration-dependent antibacterial and antibiofilm effects against clinical P. aeruginosa while differentially modulating sRNA-linked regulatory networks under sub-MIC exposure. The key findings demonstrate that ZnO nanoparticles effectively inhibit biofilm formation at concentrations ≥25,000 μg/mL, while sub-inhibitory exposure triggers source-specific adaptive transcriptional responses mediated through sRNA regulatory circuits. These findings conclusively support the potential of biosynthesized ZnO nanoparticles as adjunctive antimicrobial agents against MDR P. aeruginosa biofilms, with the critical caveat that therapeutic concentrations must be maintained above the MIC to prevent adaptive resistance enhancement through sRNA-mediated stress responses.},
}

@article {pmid42749421,
year = {2026},
author = {Fayyadh, KM and Al-Maeni, MA and Al-Khazraji, SFR and Mohammed, OA},
title = {Evaluating the effect of SNPs located on some biofilm genes on their protein function and structure in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumonia isolates.},
journal = {Journal, genetic engineering & biotechnology},
volume = {24},
number = {3},
pages = {100751},
doi = {10.1016/j.jgeb.2026.100751},
pmid = {42749421},
issn = {2090-5920},
abstract = {To evaluate the impact of biofilm-associated SNPs (previously identified) on protein structure and function, we employed a suite of bioinformatics tools. SIFT, Mupro, INPS-3D, and NCBI Conserved Domain Search were utilized to analyze changes in function, stability, secondary structure, phi/psi angles, and Relative Solvent Accessibility (RSA). Furthermore, SwissDock and molecular dynamics simulations were conducted to compare free energy, RMSF, polarity, flexibility, and molecular contacts between wild-type and mutant proteins. In silico analysis indicated that mutations in quorum-sensing (lasI, rhlI) and biofilm-associated genes significantly impact bacterial biofilm formation. Specifically, SIFT and Mupro predicted that lasI/rhlI mutations D39N (0.01/0.2) and D44N (0.5) impair signaling molecule synthesis. Furthermore, the S32N substitution in ndvB was predicted by INPS-3D to alter secondary structure (β-sheet to coil) and torsion angles (ϕ: -99 to 118; ψ: -94 to 5), likely disrupting protein function. Additionally, the R292A mutation in tssc1 was predicted to impact protein stability (SIFT: 0.01; Mupro: -0.9) and increase burial (RSA 37% to 23%, helix to coil). A frame-shift mutation in tssc1 was also identified, suggesting further modulation of biofilm production. Regarding with docking results, D44N in the rhII gene showed a slight change ΔΔG values from -7 to -7.2 and a change in polarity from 16 to 14, however, molecular dynamic simulation showed significant increase in RSMF value from 1.5 to 3.5 and increase the flexibility in mutant compared with wild type which reflects the importance of this SNP in changing the function of the protein mediating biofilm formation.},
}

@article {pmid42749658,
year = {2026},
author = {Yu-Nu, N and Paosen, S and Lethongkam, S and Voravuthikunchai, S and Tannukit, S},
title = {Cytocompatibility and antibacterial activity of the ethanolic leaf extract of Rhodomyrtus tomentosa on Enterococcus faecalis biofilm.},
journal = {Journal of oral science},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.2334/josnusd.26-0111},
pmid = {42749658},
issn = {1880-4926},
abstract = {PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the antibacterial activities of the ethanolic leaf extract of Rhodomyrtus tomentosa against Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) and its cytocompatibility to human periodontal ligament (hPDL) cells.

METHODS: The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the ethanolic extract of Rhodomyrtus tomentosa leaf (RTE) against E. faecalis were determined using the broth microdilution method. Biofilm inhibition was assessed using the crystal violet assay. Ultrastructural changes were observed via transmission electron microscopy (TEM), whereas biofilm and dentin surface change of root specimens were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Cytotoxicity was evaluated on hPDL cells using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay.

RESULTS: RTE exhibited potent antibacterial activity with MIC and MBC of 1 and 32 µg/mL, respectively. RTE significantly inhibited biofilm formation in a concentration-dependent manner and outperformed sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) at sub-MIC levels. TEM revealed morphological disruption of E. faecalis cells following RTE treatment. SEM confirmed effective bacterial reduction without causing erosion of radicular dentin. RTE at sub-MICs demonstrated relatively low cytotoxicity compared with NaOCl.

CONCLUSION: RTE exhibited strong antibacterial and antibiofilm properties while preserving dentin structure and demonstrating cytocompatibility.},
}

@article {pmid42750821,
year = {2026},
author = {Kumar, S and Bhattacharya, S},
title = {Elucidation of the biochemical properties of a partially purified Serratia marcescens SP6 serratiopeptidase with anti-biofilm efficacy.},
journal = {3 Biotech},
volume = {16},
number = {10},
pages = {433},
pmid = {42750821},
issn = {2190-572X},
abstract = {UNLABELLED: This study aimed to purify and biochemically characterize serratiopeptidase from Serratia marcescens SP6 and evaluate its anti-biofilm efficacy against clinically relevant biofilm-forming pathogens. Serratiopeptidase derived from S. marcescens SP6 underwent a four-step purification process: precipitation, dialysis, ion-exchange, and gel filtration chromatography resulting in a 15.91-fold increase in purity, essential for reliably characterizing its biochemical and kinetic properties. The enzyme's molecular weight was determined to be approximately 47 kDa. It demonstrated broad substrate specificity, showing the highest affinity toward casein. Optimal enzymatic activity was recorded at pH 7 and 40 °C, with 89.2% and 82.4% of its activity retained under these conditions for 60 min. Kinetic analysis revealed a K m of 0.034 mM (842 µg/mL) and a V max of 738.2 U/mL, with a turnover number (k cat) of 55.3 s[-1] and catalytic efficiency (k cat /K m) of 1.64 × 10[6] M[-1]s[-1], indicating high catalytic efficiency. The activity of serratiopeptidase was modulated by various metal ions and reagents, with Zn[2+], Co[2+], Ba[2+], Mn[2+], Tween-20, and β-mercaptoethanol acting as activators, while EDTA and PMSF inhibited activity, confirming its classification as a serine-metalloprotease. The enzyme exhibited stability at 4 °C, retaining 61.31% of its activity after 60 days of storage and exhibited resistance to degradation by trypsin and serum, with in vitro half-lives of 4 and 5 h, respectively. Notably, serratiopeptidase displayed anti-biofilm activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa MTCC 2453 and Staphylococcus aureus MTCC 1430, achieving maximum biofilm inhibition of 41.65% and 21.87%, respectively, at 200 µg/mL with corresponding IC50 values (defined relative to the normalized response range) of 56.92 ± 8 µg/mL and 124.6 ± 8 µg/mL, respectively, corresponding to 50% of the observed response range rather than 50% absolute biofilm inhibition. These results highlight the enzyme's potential role in biofilm inhibition and suggest its possible use as an adjunct therapeutic agent alongside conventional antimicrobials to combat biofilm-associated infections.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s13205-026-05063-9.},
}

@article {pmid42751600,
year = {2026},
author = {Utomo, RNC and Palkowitz, AL and Schräder, P and Gan, L and Ballerstedt, H and Zimmermann, M and Blank, LM and Fischer, H and Wolfart, S and Tuna, T},
title = {Laminin functionalization of zirconia abutments modulates early oral biofilm formation in vitro.},
journal = {Journal of oral microbiology},
volume = {18},
number = {1},
pages = {2731523},
pmid = {42751600},
issn = {2000-2297},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Surface properties of dental implant abutment materials critically influence supragingival biofilm formation by determining the outcome of the early 'race for the surface', in which gingival epithelial cells and fibroblasts compete with bacteria for initial adhesion. This study hypothesized that biofunctionalization with extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins fibronectin (FN) or laminin (LN) modulates early oral biofilm formation on titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V) and yttria-stabilized zirconia (Y-TZP) abutments.

METHODS: Saliva-derived microcosm biofilms were grown on control and biofunctionalized discs. Biofilm biomass, viability, structure, microbial community composition and metabolic activity were assessed using microscopy-based methods, impedance flow cytometry, 16S rRNA sequencing and short-chain fatty acid analysis.

RESULTS: Laminin-functionalized Y-TZP showed the most pronounced delay in early biofilm formation. Biofilm accumulation was delayed during the first three days and was associated with the lowest number of viable cells on day 4, minimal extracellular polymeric substance formation, reduced Veillonella abundance (~9% on day 1) and decreased short-chain fatty acid production.

CONCLUSION: ECM-based coatings do not exert bactericidal effects but transiently reshape early oral biofilm formation. Laminin-functionalized zirconia may act as a biologically selective interface that favors beneficial early host-microbe interactions, potentially creating a microbial environment more compatible with peri-implant soft-tissue health.},
}

@article {pmid42751832,
year = {2026},
author = {Gosset, M and Chatzopoulou, E and Detzen, L and Jepsen, K and Jervøe-Storm, PM and Jepsen, S and Cosgarea, R},
title = {Local and Systemic Risk Factors of Dental Biofilm-Induced Gingivitis and Their Control: A Systematic Review.},
journal = {Journal of clinical periodontology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/jcpe.70189},
pmid = {42751832},
issn = {1600-051X},
abstract = {OBJECTIVES: To identify local and systemic risk factors/indicators for dental biofilm-induced gingivitis (DB-GI) and to summarize evidence for their control.

METHODS: A systematic review was undertaken following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and divided into PECOTS and PICOTS questions, respectively, related to risk factors/indicators and intervention studies. Only longitudinal studies with at least 3 months duration or studies using the experimental gingivitis protocol were included. Literature search was performed on electronic databases PubMed in Medline, Ovid in EMBASE and SCOPUS. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO.

RESULTS: From an initial screening of 11,529 entries, 71 papers were eventually included, 55 for PECOTS (39 for local factors, 16 for systemic factors) and 16 for PICOTS (11 for local factors, 5 for systemic factors). Local factors: most studies addressed fixed orthodontic appliances as a factor in plaque retention, whereas only a few studies investigated the effects of tooth malalignment/severe crowding on DB-GI. Some studies found higher GI at sites with defective, overhanging or subgingival margins. The removal of fixed orthodontic appliances led consistently to a significant reduction of DB-GI, whereas the evidence for an effect of orthodontic tooth correction on DB-GI in patients with malalignment/severe crowding was rather limited. Systemic factors: adherence to a pro-inflammatory or high-sugar diet increased the risk of DB-GI, whereas an anti-inflammatory/low-sugar diet and dietary advice could reduce it. In patients with pre-existing gingivitis, menstrual cycle hormone fluctuations and gonadotropin-induced ovarian stimulation were associated with increased DB-GI independent of plaque levels. No convincing evidence was found that overweight/obesity increases the risk for DB-GI due to a lack of studies.

CONCLUSIONS: DB-GI may be influenced by local and systemic factors, although the certainty of the evidence varies. Fixed orthodontic appliances consistently increase gingival inflammation through plaque retention, an effect that is generally reversible after appliance removal. Evidence regarding the impact of orthodontic correction of malalignment or severe crowding remains limited. Dietary patterns may influence gingival inflammation, with some preliminary evidence suggesting benefits of anti-inflammatory or low-sugar diets. Hormonal fluctuations and exogenous sex steroid use may increase gingival inflammation in patients with pre-existing gingivitis. Evidence is currently insufficient to support overweight or obesity as risk factors for gingival inflammation.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Dental biofilm-induced gingivitis is increased by some predisposing local factors and modifying local and systemic factors. Oral hygiene instructions and professional mechanical plaque removal should be intensified in these patients and dietary advice may be considered.},
}

@article {pmid42741124,
year = {2026},
author = {Arbab, S and Ullah, H and Suleman, and Almehmadi, M and Allahyani, M and Aljuaid, A and Jambi, K and Halawi, MH and Feng, C},
title = {Multidrug resistance and biofilm formation among bacterial isolates from chronic wounds in animals: evaluation of anti-biofilm activity.},
journal = {Frontiers in veterinary science},
volume = {13},
number = {},
pages = {1916814},
pmid = {42741124},
issn = {2297-1769},
abstract = {Chronic wound infections in animals represent a growing clinical challenge due to the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria and their ability to form biofilms, which significantly reduce treatment efficacy and promote persistent infection. This study aimed to characterize the bacterial profile, antimicrobial resistance patterns, biofilm-forming capacity, and anti-biofilm activity of agents against bacterial isolates recovered from chronic wound specimens. A total of 96 wound samples were analyzed, of which 84 (87.5%) yielded positive bacterial growth. The predominant bacterial isolates were Staphylococcus aureus (33.3%), followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (27.4%), Escherichia coli (19.0%), and Klebsiella spp. (11.9%). Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed high resistance to β-lactam antibiotics, with ampicillin showing the highest resistance rate (78.6%), whereas imipenem exhibited the lowest resistance (14.3%). Overall, 63.5% of isolates were classified as multidrug-resistant. Biofilm analysis demonstrated that 38.1% of isolates were strong biofilm producers, with strong biofilm-forming strains exhibiting higher minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values compared with weak and non-biofilm producers. Evaluation of anti-biofilm agents showed that silver nanoparticles, chitosan nanoparticles, and DNase enzyme reduced biofilm biomass by 72%, 65%, and 58%, respectively. These findings highlight the critical role of biofilm-mediated resistance in chronic wound infections and emphasize the need for integrated antimicrobial and anti-biofilm strategies for effective management of MDR bacterial infections.},
}

@article {pmid42741262,
year = {2026},
author = {Park, MK and Park, YJ and Kim, TH and Hyun, Y and Kwon, SM and Kwon, M and Hwang, TK and Shin, JH},
title = {A γ-polyglutamic acid-based artificial biofilm for field delivery of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens KNU-28: an uncontrolled multi-orchard demonstration on peach gummosis with exploratory bark fungal community profiling.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {17},
number = {},
pages = {1933566},
pmid = {42741262},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {Peach gummosis, caused primarily by Botryosphaeria dothidea sensu lato, is a destructive canker disease with few environmentally friendly management options. Here we report an uncontrolled pre/post field demonstration of a γ-polyglutamic acid-based artificial biofilm - a biodegradable delivery platform whose agent-agnostic design remains untested - encapsulating Bacillus amyloliquefaciens KNU-28 across 143 trees in 18 commercial peach orchards in South Korea. Severity declined from a pre-treatment mean of 4.12 (April) to 2.32 by August (76.2% of 143 trees improved by ≥1 point) and to 1.78 by October in three regions (88.3% of 128 trees). In an ordinal cumulative-link mixed model, severity fell below the April baseline at every later visit; the average monthly odds ratio was 0.70 (95% CI 0.66-0.75); alternative model specifications agreed. Operator-independent image-based ΔE quantification across 74 trees showed a concordant cohort-level decline (lesion-area declines of 19-30%; significant in one of four regions after FDR correction) but agreed only weakly with the ordinal score at tree level (Spearman ρ = 0.16), and is complementary rather than confirmatory. We sequenced fungal ITS2 from 23 bark samples. Multivariate dispersion differed among bark groups (PERMDISP F = 20.7, p < 0.001), and healthy and gummosis-affected bark did not separate under compositionally aware metrics (Aitchison/robust CLR, p > 0.34); the nominally significant Bray-Curtis PERMANOVA (R[2] = 0.248, p = 0.001) therefore cannot be read as a centroid difference. Early- and later-treatment diseased communities did not differ (p = 0.542; all genera FDR q > 0.5). Gummosis-enrolled bark showed higher relative abundances of Wickerhamomyces, Cytospora and Botryosphaeria (dominant ASVs assigned to B. qingyuanensis) than healthy bark, though none survived FDR correction. Because the 19 diseased libraries came from only 10 trees, the genus-severity correlations were replaced by a paired analysis, in which no genus differed nominally. Together, this demonstration establishes the operational feasibility of field-scale application and a parameter-transparent lesion-quantification method; the severity decline and mycobiota trends are accompanying observations. Because untreated controls, strain-level KNU-28 tracking, verification of delivery to bark and a powered microbiome cohort were absent, the data do not establish causal efficacy and warrant randomized, untreated-control trials.},
}

@article {pmid42741371,
year = {2026},
author = {Arias-Real, R and de Los Ríos, A},
title = {Beyond surface scraping to understand fluvial biofilms: an electron microscopy analysis of the rock-biofilm interface in Antarctic meltwater streams.},
journal = {Biofilm},
volume = {12},
number = {},
pages = {100396},
pmid = {42741371},
issn = {2590-2075},
abstract = {Fluvial biofilms develop through the establishment of microbial communities on submerged mineral surfaces. However, they are routinely studied after detachment from their colonized substrate by scraping or brushing, a standard procedure that homogenizes biofilm architecture and disrupts the biofilm-rock interface. Using an in situ microscopy approach that examines biofilms without separating them from their colonized substrate, we studied undisturbed biofilm-covered rocks collected from Antarctic meltwater streams. Our observations revealed: (i) a highly organized three-dimensional architecture characterized by spatially structured microbial assemblages embedded in a matrix of extracellular polymeric substances; (ii) a close association among microbial cells, the colonized rock surface and fine-grained sedimentary components; (iii) the development of an endolithic biofilm fraction through the colonization of internal rock fissures and cavities; and (iv) a frequent laminated structure with alternating layers rich in microbial cells and layers composed mainly of sediment particles, which may preserve a physical signatures of hydrological variability and sediment deposition. Together, these observations challenge the widespread view of fluvial biofilms as uniform microbial layers developing on inert mineral surfaces. Integrating in situ microscopy approaches with conventional destructive approaches offers new opportunities to link microbial diversity with its spatial organization, providing a more complete understanding of fluvial biofilm ecology and microbial-mineral interactions.},
}

@article {pmid42744725,
year = {2026},
author = {Mishra, G and Verma, S and Parihar, VS and Chitra, P},
title = {A systematic review of the effects of surface characteristics and antibiofilm strategies on biofilm formation and OMSI stability.},
journal = {Journal of the World federation of orthodontists},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.ejwf.2026.08.001},
pmid = {42744725},
issn = {2212-4438},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The role of peri‑implant biofilm in the stability of orthodontic mini-screw implant (OMSI) remains poorly understood. This systematic review evaluated the effect of surface characteristics and antibiofilm strategies on biofilm formation and the impact of biofilm characteristics on OMSI stability.

METHODS: A systematic literature search was performed in Embase, PubMed (MEDLINE), LILACS, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar through April 2026. Studies were selected based on predefined eligibility criteria. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for observational studies and the QUIN tool for in vitro studies. The protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42024516882). Due to methodological heterogeneity across studies, the findings were qualitatively synthesized.

RESULTS: Twenty-three studies were included (18 in vitro, 4 observational, 1 randomized controlled trial). Surface roughness and carbon/oxygen content were positively associated with biofilm formation. Nano-engineered coatings (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, silver/hydroxyapatite, chitosan-silver, biopolymer-embedded silver and selenium, plasma treatment) demonstrated antibiofilm or antimicrobial activity, although effects varied by coating composition and outcome assessed. Antimicrobial interventions (chlorhexidine, superoxidized gel, probiotics, herbal gels, photodynamic therapy, garlic extract) reduced bacterial viability and bacterial counts, although outcome measures and exposure protocols varied considerably. Dysbiotic communities enriched with periopathogenic taxa were reported in unstable OMSIs.

CONCLUSIONS: Surface modifications and antimicrobial interventions may reduce biofilm mass and/or bacterial viability on OMSIs. Current evidence does not support a clear association between quantitative biofilm reduction and improved clinical outcomes. However, qualitative bacterial differences may be associated with OMSI stability. Well-designed and standardized studies are needed to develop evidence-based biofilm management strategies for OMSIs.},
}

@article {pmid42745944,
year = {2026},
author = {Enan, G and Abdel-Shafi, S and El-Nemr, M and Shehab, W and Osman, A and Sitohy, M and Sitohy, B},
title = {Correction: Controlling bacterial biofilm formation by native and methylated lupine 11S globulins.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {17},
number = {},
pages = {1933458},
pmid = {42745944},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1259334.].},
}

@article {pmid42747172,
year = {2026},
author = {Namiganda, V and Schertzer, JW},
title = {Bacterial extracellular vesicles as players in biofilm dynamics and community interactions.},
journal = {FEMS microbiology reviews},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/femsre/fuag047},
pmid = {42747172},
issn = {1574-6976},
abstract = {The ability to use vesicles to deliver cargo safely across distance is a valuable strategy that appears to be universal across all life. The ability of prokaryotes to accomplish this is a relatively new idea, but one that is expanding rapidly. In this review, we will describe what bacterial extracellular vesicles (bEVs) are and where they come from. We will also summarize what has been learned about their biogenesis and function through foundational planktonic studies. Using this as a backdrop, we will then contextualize new and exciting discoveries made as the focus of the field has shifted to studying bEVs in more complex multi-species and biofilm communities. We will explore how, when and where bEVs are produced in biofilms and how the circumstances of their formation can affect communication, matrix remodeling, community metabolism, organization, and defense. The boundless versatility of bEVs makes them essential contributors to bacterial community life and also offers great potential for exploitation as applied biologics.},
}

@article {pmid42747286,
year = {2026},
author = {Pauer, H and Nasiri, S and Magalhães, NS and Nguyen, VT and Ferreira, NV and Ferreira, LDS and Bradshaw, AB and Kirby, KE and Sabapathy, T and Udensi, CG and Feofanova, V and Moreira, DA and Parente, TE and Wilde, J and Pride, DT and Allen-Vercoe, E and Antunes, LCM},
title = {Enterocloster citroniae and related gut microbiome species modulate Vibrio cholerae biofilm formation through the production of bioactive small molecules.},
journal = {Virulence},
volume = {17},
number = {1},
pages = {2712696},
doi = {10.1080/21505594.2026.2712696},
pmid = {42747286},
issn = {2150-5608},
mesh = {*Vibrio cholerae/drug effects/physiology/genetics/pathogenicity ; *Biofilms/growth & development/drug effects ; Humans ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Cholera/microbiology ; },
abstract = {Cholera is a diarrheal disease that affects millions of people globally. Although the causative agent, Vibrio cholerae, has been extensively studied in isolation, investigation of its interactions with the gut microbiota started relatively recently. We and others previously showed that microbiota-derived metabolites significantly influence V. cholerae behavior. By investigating how an organic extract of human feces affects V. cholerae gene expression, we showed that gut metabolites strongly suppress swimming motility, a trait important for host colonization. Interestingly, extracts of pure cultures of a gut commensal, Enterocloster citroniae, recapitulated this inhibition. Here, we present a comprehensive examination of the effect of small molecules produced by E. citroniae and related species on V. cholerae behavior. We show that E. citroniae small molecules inhibit motility by various V. cholerae strains, and that several phylogenetically related species produce this activity, although the magnitude of the effect varies between strains. Using biofilm formation assays in static and flow conditions, we show that V. cholerae strongly induces biofilm formation in response to E. citroniae metabolites. Transcriptome and reporter analyses showed that several genes involved in the synthesis of an extracellular polysaccharide are induced by E. citroniae metabolites. Finally, we show that V. cholerae interactions with host cells are also modulated by this commensal. These findings advance our understanding of microbiome-pathogen interactions and how commensal bacteria influence V. cholerae virulence through the production of small molecules. In the future, this knowledge may be used to design novel microbiome-based therapeutic approaches to combat cholera and other infections.},
}

*Vibrio cholerae/drug effects/physiology/genetics/pathogenicity
*Biofilms/growth & development/drug effects
Humans
*Gastrointestinal Microbiome
Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial
Cholera/microbiology

@article {pmid42747706,
year = {2026},
author = {Coignet, L and Jamard, S and Passaret, A and Mézieres, T and Trecourt, A and Vogt, C and Josse, J and Kolenda, C and Médina, M and Royet, K and Laurent, F and Valour, F},
title = {Validation of an innovative tissue-cage/beads rabbit model for ex vivo determination of minimum levels of Staphylococcus aureus biofilm eradication.},
journal = {European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {42747706},
issn = {1435-4373},
support = {ANR 20-PAMR-0009//Agence Nationale de la Recherche/ ; },
abstract = {To offset limitations of current methods of antibiofilm activity determination, including in vitro technical variations and the limited number of conditions assessable in animals, we describe a rabbit tissue-cage model allowing ex vivo screening of antimicrobials against in vivo-formed S. aureus biofilm. Cages containing six beads of polyethylene, titanium or steel served as support for S. aureus SH1000 biofilm formation. In vitro validation steps included: (i) quantification of bead-adherent bacteria after 24 h incubation in bacterial suspension, measured at 4.7 (95%CI, 4.5-4.9) log10 CFU/bead, with no difference between biomaterials, allowing the selection of polyethylene for animal experiments due to its lighter weight; and (ii) minimum concentration eradicating 90% of biofilm-embedded bacteria (MBEC90) determination by bead incubation in increasing concentrations of vancomycin, daptomycin and rifampicin, which were not significantly different compared to the reference method (MBECAssay[®]). In vivo validation included: (i) subcutaneous implantation of six cages per rabbit; (ii) infection with a range of different inocula (500/1000/2000 CFU/cage) before harvesting on day 7, 14 or 28 for quantification of bead-adherent bacteria. The 500 CFU/cage inoculum with a 14-day harvesting time provided the best balance between reproducibility and infection persistence and was therefore selected for ex vivo MBEC90 determination against in vivo-formed biofilms. Vancomycin, daptomycin, and rifampin MBEC90 values were 1.0, 1.5, and < 0.016 mg/L, respectively, and were significantly lower than those obtained against in vitro-formed biofilms. Compared with existing in vitro and in vivo studies, this innovative model of ex vivo determination of MBEC90 on in vivo-formed biofilm is likely to be more predictive of the in vivo anti-staphylococcal antibiofilm activity and requires a limited number of animals.},
}

@article {pmid42747801,
year = {2026},
author = {Singh, I and Kumar, A and Verma, IK and Sharma, D and Dhakad, MS and Beg, MMA},
title = {Biofilm-producing Acinetobacter baumannii in Asia: mapping the clinical burden and antimicrobial resistance through systematic review and meta-analysis.},
journal = {Biofouling},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {1-13},
doi = {10.1080/08927014.2026.2732046},
pmid = {42747801},
issn = {1029-2454},
abstract = {Acinetobacter baumannii, an evolving pathogen that has become a drug-resistant strain in the last two decades, causes a high rate of infections in health-care settings. Most nosocomial infections were caused by biofilm-forming A. baumannii, which enables it to survive and proliferate under hostile conditions, including high concentrations of antibiotics. They confer resistance to antibiotics and facilitate the spread of drug-resistance genes among strains. For alternative preventive measures, patterns of A. baumannii are required, which are still in their infancy, especially in Asia. Thus, the current systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to evaluate the Asian prevalence of biofilm-forming A. baumannii in clinical isolates. Data extraction was performed by searching various electronic databases and was collected in Microsoft Excel. The extracted data were exported to STATA version 12 for further statistical analysis. The pooled prevalence of biofilm-forming A. baumannii was evaluated using random effects with DerSimonian-Laird. Sensitivity analysis was performed to assess the impact of individual reports on the pooled prevalence. A funnel plot was used to assess publication bias, and in addition to confirm, Egger's statistical test was employed. The prevalence of biofilm-forming A. baumannii in Asia was 67% (95% CI = 58.50, 75.31). A significant heterogeneity was observed among studies with an I[2] of 98.8%. The prevalence of strong, moderate and weak biofilm-forming A. baumannii was 20.37% (95% CI = 19.31, 21.43), 30.28% (95% CI = 29.17, 31.40) and 0%. The highest prevalence of biofilm-forming A. baumannii clinical isolates was reported for China (99.04%; 95% CI = 97.2, 100.9). The prevalent gene linked to biofilm-forming A. baumannii clinical isolates was the ompA gene (65.38%). The increased biofilm-forming burden of A. baumannii in healthcare settings indicates the need for routine patient screening and the prevention of emerging multidrug resistant A. baumannii. Moreover, these outcomes suggested the design of a novel prevention program by public-health policymakers to control the looming drug-resistant A. baumannii strain.},
}

@article {pmid42733702,
year = {2026},
author = {Li, N and Hu, Y and Liu, L and Chen, Z and Huang, S and Li, M and Mao, X and Xue, X},
title = {From planktonic to biofilm states: single-cell transcriptomics reveals metabolic reprogramming and cellular heterogeneity in Acinetobacter baumannii.},
journal = {Biofilm},
volume = {12},
number = {},
pages = {100393},
pmid = {42733702},
issn = {2590-2075},
abstract = {Acinetobacter baumannii, a notorious nosocomial pathogen, exhibits enhanced antibiotic resistance through biofilm formation. However, a comprehensive understanding of the heterogeneity and regulatory dynamics underlying biofilm development at single-cell resolution is lacking. This study outlines the transcriptional landscape of A. baumannii biofilm formation at single-cell resolution and explores potential therapeutic targets. We monitored the dynamic formation process of biofilms using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technology. Subsequently, we conducted characteristic genes, gene ontology (GO) enrichment, and pseudotemporal analysis on each identified cluster. In this study, scRNA-seq and pseudotemporal trajectory results showed the transition from planktonic to biofilm states in A. baumannii. Increased cellular heterogeneity was observed during biofilm maturation: planktonic subpopulations (AB_0 h) displayed a metabolic divergence between phenylacetate catabolism (paa genes) and the tricarboxylic acid cycle (acnD, atp genes), whereas the 12 h mixed population (M_12 h) exhibited co-upregulation of ribosomal (rpl, rps) and stress response genes (recA, uvrA), facilitating protein synthesis and environmental adaptation. Mature biofilm subpopulations (BF_48 h) activated iron acquisition (bauA, basD) and sulfur/nitrogen metabolism pathways (ssuC, purine degradation genes) under nutrient limitation, alongside DNA repair (uvrB, uvrC) and proteostasis mechanisms (clpB, clpX). Pseudotemporal analysis identified a critical branchpoint (Node 2) that marked the transition from the high-metabolism planktonic to the low-metabolism biofilm state, characterized by the downregulation of ribosomal (rpl, rps) and transporter (putP) genes. These findings characterize transcriptional programs associated with biofilm maturation and reveal subpopulation-specific metabolic features that may represent potential vulnerabilities warranting further investigation through targeted mutagenesis and functional assays.},
}

@article {pmid42733921,
year = {2026},
author = {Weiler, JR and Lapp, CJ and Gescher, J and Edel, M},
title = {Identification of genetic determinants that promote biofilm growth under heterotrophic conditions in Cupriavidus necator using transposon enrichment.},
journal = {Biofilm},
volume = {12},
number = {},
pages = {100395},
pmid = {42733921},
issn = {2590-2075},
abstract = {Cupriavidus necator is a metabolically versatile β-proteobacterium of growing interest for auto- and heterotrophic bioprocesses, yet the genetic determinants governing its biofilm formation remain largely uncharacterized, particularly under process-relevant heterotrophic conditions. Here, we applied a forward-genetics transposon-enrichment approach to identify loci which promote surface-associated growth. A high-density mini-Tn5 mutant library (26,185 insertion clones, exceeding the >17,000 required for genome-wide coverage) was cultivated as a biofilm in a microfluidic flow-cell system on fructose for 168 h, and the surface-associated community was characterized by deep sequencing. Twelve genes showed significantly elevated insertion frequencies, several with documented links to biofilm formation in other bacteria, including the ferrous-iron uptake system (feoA/feoB), galU, and a GSDEF/EAL dual-domain protein. The gene B2043 (E6A55_RS29530), encoding this c-di-GMP-metabolizing protein, was selected for validation by markerless deletion. Under static conditions, the ΔB2043 mutant showed a 1.69 ± 0.06-fold increase in biofilm-associated biomass (p = 5.16 × 10[-15]). Under flow-through conditions, the mutant attached faster, entered exponential growth ∼10 h earlier, reached its biovolume plateau ∼16 h earlier than the wild-type, and formed distinct tower-like structures. These results identify B2043 as a negative regulator of biofilm formation acting predominantly during attachment, provide the first experimental evidence for c-di-GMP-dependent biofilm regulation in C. necator H16, and establish a functional-genomics framework - together with eleven further candidate loci - for engineering productive biofilms in this organism.},
}

@article {pmid42734275,
year = {2026},
author = {Jayakumar, A and Velusamy, A and Subbian, K and Natarajan, S},
title = {Designing Single-Molecule Nanofiber Therapeutics for Breast Cancer and Biofilm Suppression.},
journal = {Biomacromolecules},
volume = {27},
number = {9},
pages = {5958-5975},
doi = {10.1021/acs.biomac.6c00696},
pmid = {42734275},
issn = {1526-4602},
support = {[grant sanctioned: S.O.(P)/CMRG/P-457/2025, Dated//Chief Minister Research Grant (CMRG) 2024-2025/ ; },
mesh = {*Nanofibers/chemistry ; Humans ; Female ; *Breast Neoplasms/drug therapy/pathology ; *Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology/chemistry ; Animals ; MDA-MB-231 Cells ; *Biofilms/drug effects ; Escherichia coli/drug effects ; Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects ; Polyvinyl Alcohol/chemistry ; Apoptosis/drug effects ; *Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology/chemistry ; },
abstract = {Breast carcinoma is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and a leading cause of cancer-related death among women globally. Conventional treatments are limited by poor targeting, systemic toxicity, and susceptibility to secondary infections, highlighting the need for localized multifunctional therapeutic systems. This study aimed to develop poly(vinyl alcohol)-loaded madecassoside nanofibers (PVA@MAD) as a localized therapeutic platform for breast cancer treatment. Fabricated nanofibers exhibited spider-web-like architecture, swelling behavior, hydrophilicity, degradation, and sustained drug release (∼95% at 72 h under acidic conditions). PVA@MAD showed cytotoxicity against MDA-MB-231 cells, with an IC50 value of 49.31 ± 0.010 μg/mL, inducing ROS-mediated apoptosis and inhibiting cell migration, indicating antimetastatic potential. In addition, the nanofibers showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Hemocompatibility, brine shrimp, acute, and subacute toxicity studies confirmed excellent biocompatibility. Overall, PVA@MAD nanofibers offer a promising localized therapeutic approach combining anticancer and antibacterial activities for improved breast cancer management.},
}

*Nanofibers/chemistry
Humans
Female
*Breast Neoplasms/drug therapy/pathology
*Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology/chemistry
Animals
MDA-MB-231 Cells
*Biofilms/drug effects
Escherichia coli/drug effects
Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects
Polyvinyl Alcohol/chemistry
Apoptosis/drug effects
*Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology/chemistry

@article {pmid42734851,
year = {2026},
author = {Karadal, F and Cufaoglu, G and Ipek, P and Sakin Sahin, T and Ozkaya, Y and Ertas Onmaz, N},
title = {Diversity, antifungal susceptibility, and biofilm formation of fish-associated yeasts from freshwater and marine fish.},
journal = {Veterinary research communications},
volume = {50},
number = {6},
pages = {},
pmid = {42734851},
issn = {1573-7446},
mesh = {Animals ; *Biofilms/growth & development/drug effects ; *Antifungal Agents/pharmacology ; *Fishes/microbiology ; *Drug Resistance, Fungal ; *Yeasts/drug effects/physiology/isolation & purification/classification ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests/veterinary ; Turkey ; Fresh Water ; },
abstract = {This study investigated the diversity, antifungal susceptibility, and biofilm-forming capacity of yeasts isolated from freshwater and marine fish marketed for human consumption in Central Anatolia, Türkiye. A total of 109 yeast isolates recovered from 130 fish samples were identified by MALDI-TOF MS and assigned to seven genera and eleven species, with Candida, Rhodotorula, and Cryptococcus predominating. Candida zeylanoides was the most frequently recovered species and was widely distributed across fish species and habitats. Freshwater fish were predominantly colonized by Candida spp., whereas marine fish showed greater yeast diversity. Yeast isolation from muscle tissue was infrequent (7.7%) and restricted to freshwater fish, including Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis. Based on CLSI interpretive criteria, 62.5% of Candida isolates were resistant to fluconazole, whereas 9.4% and 28.1% were categorized as susceptible-dose dependent and susceptible, respectively. Among the antifungal agents evaluated, posaconazole exhibited the broadest inhibitory activity, itraconazole the lowest, while amphotericin B showed consistent activity across all isolates. Fluconazole susceptibility was significantly associated with tissue origin (p < 0.001), with resistance being most prevalent (96.6%) among skin-derived isolates. Biofilm formation was detected in 63.3% of isolates and differed significantly among yeast groups (p = 0.005). Strong biofilm-producing phenotypes were most frequently associated with C. zeylanoides and C. albicans, whereas all C. tropicalis isolates lacked detectable biofilm-forming capacity. These findings highlight the presence of diverse yeast communities in fish, including isolates with reduced antifungal susceptibility and biofilm-forming capacity, underscoring the need for continued surveillance within food safety and public health contexts.},
}

Animals
*Biofilms/growth & development/drug effects
*Antifungal Agents/pharmacology
*Fishes/microbiology
*Drug Resistance, Fungal
*Yeasts/drug effects/physiology/isolation & purification/classification
Microbial Sensitivity Tests/veterinary
Turkey
Fresh Water

@article {pmid42737259,
year = {2026},
author = {O'Bryan, CA and Stalford, B and Obe, T and Crandall, PG},
title = {Emerging Microbiological and Sensor-Based Approaches for Biofilm Detection in Meat and Poultry Processing Environments.},
journal = {Foods (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {15},
number = {17},
pages = {},
pmid = {42737259},
issn = {2304-8158},
abstract = {Biofilms remain a major challenge in meat and poultry processing because conventional sanitation verification methods provide only indirect evidence of attached microbial communities. Emerging microbiological and sensor-based technologies offer new opportunities to improve biofilm detection by providing information on biofilm structure, cellular membrane integrity, composition, and spatial distribution. This review evaluates advanced imaging techniques, molecular assays, extracellular polymeric substance (EPS)-focused analyses, and real-time sensor platforms for their potential to strengthen risk-based biofilm monitoring in meat and poultry processing environments. Confocal and epifluorescence microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, optical coherence tomography, and in situ fluorescence imaging provide detailed visualization of biofilm architecture and viability, supporting validation of routine monitoring methods and assessment of sanitation practices. Quantitative PCR, digital PCR, amplicon sequencing, and metagenomics characterize biofilm communities, identify persistent microorganisms, and evaluate sanitation effectiveness, while EPS analyses of polysaccharides, proteins, extracellular DNA, and lipids indicate biofilm maturity and resilience. Electrochemical impedance, quartz crystal microbalance, surface acoustic wave sensors, and microfluidic platforms show promise for near-real-time detection of attached biomass. Collectively, these technologies provide a framework for more targeted, data-driven biofilm surveillance that can improve sanitation verification and reduce pathogen persistence in meat and poultry processing facilities.},
}

@article {pmid42737287,
year = {2026},
author = {Küçükata, YŞ and Güç, BN and Yetim, H and Metin, B},
title = {Phenotypic and Functional Diversity in Meat-Associated Pseudomonas Isolates: Motility, Biofilm Formation, and AI-2 Activity.},
journal = {Foods (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {15},
number = {17},
pages = {},
pmid = {42737287},
issn = {2304-8158},
support = {122O439//Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Araştırma Kurumu/ ; },
abstract = {Pseudomonas species are important spoilage bacteria in aerobically stored chilled meat; however, the occurrence of the interspecies quorum sensing signal autoinducer-2 (AI-2) and its association with biofilm formation and motility in these bacteria remain insufficiently understood. In this study, Pseudomonas isolates obtained from spoiled beef steak and minced beef were characterized for biofilm formation, motility traits, and AI-2 activity. RpoD sequence analysis of the preselected Pseudomonas fragi-related isolates revealed a diverse species composition, with Pseudomonas bubulae being more frequently identified than P. fragi. This finding highlights the importance of updated taxonomic approaches for species-level identification within this group. Thirty-five isolates that were positive in the Congo red agar assay were evaluated for biofilm formation at 4 °C and 25 °C over 7 days. Mean biofilm formation was significantly higher at 25 °C during early incubation, whereas prolonged incubation resulted in comparable biofilm levels under chilled conditions. AI-2 activity was detected in 25 isolates using a Vibrio campbellii bioluminescence assay. Principal component analysis showed that AI-2-like activity and biofilm formation contributed to a similar phenotypic dimension, whereas direct Spearman correlation analysis revealed no significant monotonic relationship between these traits. Overall, these findings highlight the phenotypic versatility of meat-associated Pseudomonas spp. and suggest that biofilm formation is likely influenced by multiple strain-specific and environmental factors beyond AI-2-like activity.},
}

@article {pmid42737641,
year = {2026},
author = {Sánchez-Arcos, LD and Pérez-Olais, JH and Patricio-Hernández, A and Rodríguez-Ruiz, HA and Martínez-Santos, VI and Mercado-Flores, Y and Cortés-Sarabia, K and Muñoz-Barrios, S and Ramírez-Peralta, A},
title = {Bioinformatic Analysis of Bacillus pacificus B630: Molecular Understanding of Biofilm Production.},
journal = {International journal of molecular sciences},
volume = {27},
number = {17},
pages = {},
pmid = {42737641},
issn = {1422-0067},
support = {2006442//Secretaría de Ciencia, Humanidades, Tecnología e Innovación/ ; },
mesh = {*Biofilms/growth & development ; *Computational Biology/methods ; *Bacillus/genetics/physiology ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism/chemistry ; Operon ; Genome, Bacterial ; Bacillus cereus/genetics ; },
abstract = {The aim of this study was to determine biofilm production and motility in Bacillus pacificus B630 and Bacillus cereus ATCC 14579, and to perform a comparative genome analysis using bioinformatic tools to understand the differences between the two strains. Biofilm production was performed in glass tubes stained with safranin; motility was determined on soft agar. Bioinformatic analysis was performed using genomic information from both strains, including the identification of orthologous genes, the similarity between genes of the eps1 and sipW-tasA-calY operons, and the SipW and TasA model prediction. B. pacificus B630 produces a greater amount of biofilm on glass than B. cereus ATCC 14579 (p < 0.01). Furthermore, B. pacificus B630 shows lower motility than B. cereus ATCC 14579 (p < 0.001). B. pacificus B630 contains 45 unshared genes, whereas B. cereus ATCC 14579 has 27 unshared genes. Differences in similarity were observed between the genes of the eps1 and sipW-tasA-calY operons. These differences between SipW and TasA may affect protein structural predictions. In SipW, the differences may affect the C-terminal region. In TasA, the number of B-sheets differed between the two proteins, and amino acid substitutions were found in regions of high protein aggregation. Genomic differences in genes associated with biofilm production may explain differences in biofilm production between the strains studied.},
}

*Biofilms/growth & development
*Computational Biology/methods
*Bacillus/genetics/physiology
Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism/chemistry
Operon
Genome, Bacterial
Bacillus cereus/genetics

@article {pmid42741114,
year = {2026},
author = {Shi, J and Zhang, Y and An, J and Li, L and Li, A},
title = {Kurarinone and sophoraflavanone G from Sophora flavescens suppress Streptococcus agalactiae biofilm via dual antibiofilm mechanisms involving adhesion protein binding and ABC transporter pathway perturbation.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {17},
number = {},
pages = {1905109},
pmid = {42741114},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Biofilm formation by Streptococcus agalactiae (S. agalactiae) is a major driver of chronic bovine mastitis that resists conventional antibiotic treatment, yet targeted strategies that disarm its biofilm machinery remain limited. Sophora flavescens (S. flavescens) is a medicinal plant rich in prenylated flavonoids with antimicrobial properties, but the antibiofilm mechanisms of these compounds against S. agalactiae remain unexplored.

METHODS: The antibacterial activity of 15 prenylated flavonoids from S. flavescens was evaluated against major mastitis-associated bacteria, and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC₉₀) were determined. Biofilm inhibition was assessed by crystal violet and acridine orange staining. Molecular docking, quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR), untargeted metabolomics, and phenotypic validation assays were integrated to elucidate the antibiofilm mechanisms. A mouse mastitis model was employed to evaluate in vivo efficacy, and cytotoxicity and acute toxicity assays were performed to assess safety.

RESULTS: Kurarinone and sophoraflavanone G exhibited potent antibacterial activity against S. agalactiae, Streptococcus dysgalactiae, and Staphylococcus aureus, with MIC₉₀ values of 3.12 μg/mL against S. agalactiae, superior to norfloxacin (6.25 μg/mL). Mechanistically, these compounds acted through two complementary pathways: (1) strong binding affinity to the adhesion-related proteins FbsA, FbsB, FbsC, and Lmb in molecular docking analysis, with transcriptional downregulation of their encoding genes confirmed by qPCR, and (2) perturbation of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter pathway, as suggested by untargeted metabolomics, leading to markedly reduced secretion of extracellular polysaccharides (by up to 60%), capsular polysaccharides, and extracellular DNA. Notably, this dual antibiofilm activity occurred at sub-MIC concentrations, indicating an antibiofilm mechanism that operates independently of direct bacterial killing and is distinct from the previously reported membrane-disruptive effects of these compounds. In a mouse mastitis model, intragastric administration of both compounds significantly ameliorated mammary tissue histopathology, reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8), and decreased myeloperoxidase activity, with favorable safety profiles (LD₅₀ > 2000 mg/kg).

CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that adhesion proteins and the ABC transporter pathway represent potential dual targets against S. agalactiae biofilms, and position kurarinone and sophoraflavanone G as promising leads for antibiofilm drug development targeting biofilm-associated bovine mastitis.},
}

@article {pmid42731217,
year = {2026},
author = {Zhou, Y and Jing, R and Xi, R and Li, B and Wu, Z and Zhang, D and Li, J},
title = {Prevalence, genomic characterization, and biofilm-forming capacity of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli from faecal samples of broiler chickens in Jinan City, China.},
journal = {Poultry science},
volume = {105},
number = {11},
pages = {107613},
doi = {10.1016/j.psj.2026.107613},
pmid = {42731217},
issn = {1525-3171},
abstract = {The emergence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli in food animals threatens both veterinary and human medicine by compromising critically important antimicrobials. This study characterized the prevalence, antimicrobial resistance profiles, molecular epidemiology, and virulence attributes of ESBL-producing E. coli isolated from broiler farms in Jinan City, China. From 600 faecal samples, 537 E. coli isolates were recovered (89.5 % isolation rate), with 71 (13.2 %) identified as ESBL producers. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed markedly more severe resistance among ESBL-producing isolates, with complete ampicillin resistance (100 %) and high-level resistance to sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (94.37 %), streptomycin (87.32 %), chloramphenicol (78.87 %), and tetracycline (70.42 %). Resistance to extended-spectrum cephalosporins cefuroxime and ceftriaxone reached 43.66 % and 36.62 %, respectively, while amoxicillin/clavulanic acid susceptibility declined to 61.97 %. Whole-genome sequencing identified blaCTX-M-55 (29.58 %) as the predominant ESBL genotype, followed by blaCTX-M-64 (23.94 %), blaCTX-M-15 (19.71 %), blaCTX-M-14 (12.68 %), and blaCTX-M-65 (9.86 %). The plasmid-mediated colistin resistance gene mcr-1 was detected in 25.35 % of ESBL-producing isolates, indicating a substantial reservoir of last-resort antibiotic resistance determinants, though physical linkage between mcr-1 and ESBL-encoding genes remains undetermined due to short-read sequencing limitations. Multilocus sequence typing revealed ST117 (18.3 %) as the predominant sequence type, associated mainly with serogroup O78 (25.4 %). Virulence gene profiling demonstrated high prevalence of the serum survival gene iss (85.9 %), commonly associated with avian pathogenic E. coli, though avian pathogenicity was not experimentally confirmed. Notably, 90.14 % of ESBL-producing isolates demonstrated biofilm-forming capacity, with 16.90 % classified as strong biofilm producers forming mature, mushroom-shaped microcolonies. These findings demonstrate that broiler chickens in the sampled Jinan farms constitute a significant reservoir of multidrug-resistant, biofilm-forming ESBL-producing E. coli harboring clinically relevant genotypes, including mcr-1. The predominance of ST117, reported in both poultry and human clinical settings, along with extensive co-resistance profiles, underscores the value of integrated surveillance and antimicrobial stewardship in poultry production, though direct zoonotic transmission evidence requires further comparative genomic and epidemiological investigation.},
}

@article {pmid42731968,
year = {2026},
author = {Yin, Q and Sun, J and Wu, QY and Wang, WL and Guan, Y},
title = {Corrigendum to "Hybrid MBR-filler system enables efficient nitrogen removal from semiconductor wastewater through engineered microbial niche differentiation: Process optimization, biofilm-enhanced kinetics, and multi-omics insights" [Biores. Technol. 454 (2026) 134765].},
journal = {Bioresource technology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {135817},
doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2026.135817},
pmid = {42731968},
issn = {1873-2976},
}

@article {pmid42732453,
year = {2026},
author = {Yu, MY and Li, JL and Li, ZF and Xie, J and Wei, D},
title = {Fulvic acid: a novel biofilm denitrification enhancer.},
journal = {Environmental technology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {1-15},
doi = {10.1080/09593330.2026.2722341},
pmid = {42732453},
issn = {1479-487X},
abstract = {To address the challenges of prolonged start-up cycles and poor operational stability in biofilm reactors for treating high ammonia nitrogen pollution in aquaculture effluent, this study adopted fulvic acid (FA) as a novel biofilm enhancer to systematically analyze its regulatory mechanisms on denitrification performance and biofilm formation in sequencing batch biofilm reactors (SBBR). Through microplate biofilm formation experiments and SBBR process validation, researchers found that the biofilm formation index reached 1.4 at an FA concentration of 1200 mg/L. FA improved biofilm structural stability by promoting extracellular polymer secretion, yielding a 22-fold increase in biofilm thickness compared with the control group (the biofilm thickness peaked at 2208.3 μm). Additionally, high FA concentrations (>500 mg/L) strengthened denitrification processes by facilitating carbon source supply and electron transfer, enriched denitrifying functional bacteria such as Comamonadaceae, and inhibited Gram-positive bacteria (e.g., Actinobacteriota). The removal efficiencies of NH4[+]-N, NO3[-]-N, and total nitrogen reached 79.67%, 80% and 62.4%, respectively. This study reveals that FA enhances SBBR denitrification through dual mechanisms of carbon source supplementation and physicochemical property regulation, providing an efficient and cost-effective regulatory strategy for aquaculture effluent treatment.},
}

@article {pmid42732589,
year = {2026},
author = {Mishra, S and Taneja, S and Gulati, N and Katyal, S},
title = {Antimicrobial Efficacy of Rhamnolipid Biosurfactant Against Multi-Species Endodontic Biofilm: A Comparative In Vitro Study.},
journal = {European endodontic journal},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.65717/eej.2026.25198},
pmid = {42732589},
issn = {2548-0839},
abstract = {OBJECTIVE: Persistent root canal infections are driven by resilient multi-species biofilms that withstand conventional irrigants. This in vitro study aimed to compare the antimicrobial efficacy of rhamnolipid (RHL) with NaOCl against a multi-species endodontic biofilm.

METHODS: A 4-species biofilm (Enterococcus faecalis, Streptococcus mutans, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Staphylococcus aureus) was developed on human dentine discs over 21 days under anaerobic conditions to simulate infected root canals. Biofilm-laden specimens were treated for 10 minutes with RHL at 1×, 2× and 4× the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC, 50 mg/mL for E. faecalis). Standard 5.25% NaOCl and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) served as positive and negative controls. Antimicrobial efficacy was evaluated by viable colony-forming unit (CFU) counts, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for bacterial load (cycle threshold, CT) and confocal laser scanning microscopy.

RESULTS: Rhamnolipid demonstrated a concentration-dependent antimicrobial effect. Colony-forming unit analysis showed the greatest bacterial load reduction in the 4× MIC group (40.80 ± 12.48 CFU), followed by NaOCl (1104.0 ± 35.79 CFU), 2× MIC (1372.20 ± 29.70 CFU), MIC (1556.60 ± 25.19 CFU) and PBS (21080 ± 30.00 CFU), with all intergroup differences statistically significant. Confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed intense red fluorescence and minimal green fluorescence in the 4× MIC group, indicating predominant bacterial death. Real Time PCR results corroborated this trend, with highest CT values for S. aureus, followed by S. mutans, E. faecalis and F. nucleatum. Interestingly, F. nucleatum was more susceptible than E. faecalis in the NaOCl and PBS groups, while the reverse was observed in the RHL-treated groups.

CONCLUSION: Rhamnolipid biosurfactant, particularly at 4× MIC, demonstrated superior antimicrobial efficacy over NaOCl against multi-species endodontic biofilms, notably in reducing E. faecalis. Based on previously reported properties of RHLs, including biodegradability and potentially lower cytotoxicity, RHL may represent a promising adjunct or alternative to conventional endodontic irrigants. However, its biocompatibility, tissue interaction and clinical efficacy require further investigation.},
}

@article {pmid42733188,
year = {2026},
author = {Zheng, Q and Xiao, M and Liu, B and Tian, L and Zhang, J and Li, H and Sun, Z and Lv, S and Zhu, C},
title = {Phase-Transition-Induced Deformable OMV-Camouflaged Nanoparticles Enabling Deep Biofilm Penetration for Photothermal-Photodynamic Eradication of Bacterial Pneumonia.},
journal = {Advanced healthcare materials},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e71709},
doi = {10.1002/adhm.71709},
pmid = {42733188},
issn = {2192-2659},
support = {2024YFC2418700//National Key R&D Program of China/ ; 23JCZDJC00860//Natural Science Foundation of Tianjin/ ; BNLMS202308//Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences/ ; 63251169//Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities/ ; 63253194//Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities/ ; },
abstract = {Bacterial pneumonia remains refractory to conventional therapies due to the dense extracellular polymeric substance matrix of biofilms that severely restricts drug penetration. Here, we report a biomimetic, thermo-responsive nanoplatform (AIE/PCM@OMV) featuring phase-transition-induced deformability to overcome biofilm barriers and treat bacterial pneumonia. The nanoparticles comprise a phase-change material (PCM) core encapsulating an aggregation-induced emission (AIE) phototherapeutic agent and are camouflaged with bacterial outer membrane vesicles (OMVs). The OMV coating enables homologous targeting and preferential accumulation within biofilms derived from the parental strain. Upon 660 nm laser irradiation, the AIE agent simultaneously generates localized heat and reactive oxygen species, inducing synergistic photothermal-photodynamic bacterial ablation while triggering a solid-to-liquid transition of the PCM core. This phase transition confers dynamic deformability, allowing adaptive structural transformation and deep penetration into biofilms. AIE/PCM@OMV achieves 99.9% eradication of wild-type Escherichia coli biofilms in vitro and reduces pulmonary bacterial burden by 99% in a murine pneumonia model, alleviating lung edema and restoring alveolar architecture. Mechanistically, the therapy reprograms the immune microenvironment by suppressing excessive inflammatory signaling and promoting M2 macrophage polarization. This work establishes a phase-transition-driven deformable biomimetic nanostrategy that integrates homologous targeting, adaptive penetration, and synergistic photothermal-photodynamic therapy for effective treatment of biofilm-associated bacterial pneumonia.},
}

@article {pmid42733205,
year = {2026},
author = {Chen, YS and Ou, MS and Lin, HY},
title = {Bacteriophage-Grafted Implant Polymer Coating Prevents Biofilm Formation While Allowing Bone Cell Growth In Vitro.},
journal = {ACS biomaterials science & engineering},
volume = {12},
number = {9},
pages = {5025-5033},
doi = {10.1021/acsbiomaterials.6c01225},
pmid = {42733205},
issn = {2373-9878},
support = {NTUT-WFTMU-115-02//National Taipei University of Technology/ ; NSTC 114-2637-E-027-005//National Science and Technology Council/ ; NTUT-WFTMU-115-02//Wan Fang Hospital/ ; },
mesh = {*Biofilms/drug effects/growth & development ; Animals ; *Staphylococcus aureus/physiology/virology/drug effects ; *Osteoblasts/cytology/drug effects ; Titanium/chemistry ; *Coated Materials, Biocompatible/chemistry/pharmacology ; Alloys ; Chitosan/chemistry ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects ; Swine ; *Prostheses and Implants/microbiology ; *Bacteriophages/chemistry/physiology ; *Staphylococcus Phages ; Surface Properties ; Cell Line ; },
abstract = {Orthopedic implants often fail due to bacterial infections and biofilm formation caused by drug-resistant strains, particularly Staphylococcus aureus. Bacteriophages (phages) represent a promising strategy for controlling implant-associated infections. In this study, phages targeting S. aureus were purified from wastewater and chemically grafted onto a chitosan coating applied to a Ti-6Al-4V alloy. The phage-grafted coating was abraded against the spongy portion of a porcine femur bone, disinfected using ethanol and UV exposure, and evaluated in vitro for biofilm prevention and osteoblast mineralization. Following abrasion, part of the coating remained intact on the metal surface, and the grafted phages retained their lytic activity after disinfection. Abraded samples containing phages reduced bacterial growth by 90.5% compared with samples without phages (p < 0.01) and effectively prevented biofilm formation 16 h after bacterial inoculation. The 7F2 osteoblasts exhibited significantly higher proliferation on phage-grafted coatings (p < 0.05). Cells cultured on abraded samples showed increased maturation, indicated by alkaline phosphatase activity, and enhanced mineralization, measured by calcium deposition, relative to nonabraded samples (p < 0.01), likely due to increased surface roughness. However, the presence of phages on the coating was associated with reduced calcium deposition (p < 0.01). These results demonstrate that phage-grafted coatings can reduce bacterial growth and prevent biofilm formation without deactivation by biological residues, while maintaining compatibility with bone-forming cells in vitro. This approach may offer a feasible strategy for reducing implant-related infections while allowing bone cell growth.},
}

*Biofilms/drug effects/growth & development
Animals
*Staphylococcus aureus/physiology/virology/drug effects
*Osteoblasts/cytology/drug effects
Titanium/chemistry
*Coated Materials, Biocompatible/chemistry/pharmacology
Alloys
Chitosan/chemistry
Cell Proliferation/drug effects
Swine
*Prostheses and Implants/microbiology
*Bacteriophages/chemistry/physiology
*Staphylococcus Phages
Surface Properties
Cell Line

@article {pmid42733210,
year = {2026},
author = {Nguyen, NB and Ushijima, Y and Sekiya, R and Morikawa, K and Nguyen, LTT},
title = {Multifaceted Suppression of Staphylococcal Virulence Phenotypes: In Vitro Study of a Cellular Status With Reduced Agr Activity and Impaired Biofilm.},
journal = {MicrobiologyOpen},
volume = {15},
number = {5},
pages = {e70380},
doi = {10.1002/mbo3.70380},
pmid = {42733210},
issn = {2045-8827},
support = {//Kobayashi Foundation/ ; 22K19419//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; 24KK0148//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; },
mesh = {*Biofilms/drug effects/growth & development ; *Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects/pathogenicity/physiology/genetics ; *Bacterial Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; *Trans-Activators/metabolism/genetics ; Virulence/drug effects ; Virulence Factors/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/drug effects ; Quorum Sensing/drug effects ; Phenotype ; Staphylococcal Infections/microbiology ; *Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Protein Kinases ; Transcription Factors ; },
abstract = {Anti-quorum sensing (QS) therapy has been focused on to reduce the virulence of pathogenic bacteria. However, there is a risk that suppression of the staphylococcal QS Agr system might promote biofilm formation. In this study, we found that both Agr activity and the biofilm of Staphylococcus aureus can be reduced by a sappanwood extract (SWe). The impaired biofilm in the presence of SWe exhibited reduced extracellular DNA (eDNA) and increased extracellular polysaccharides. SWe also reduced pigmentation. The RNA-seq analysis showed that SWe suppressed multiple key virulence regulators, including the Agr and SaeRS systems. SWe downregulated cell-wall-associated proteins and several Agr-regulated virulence factors such as hemolysins and phenol-soluble modulins (PSMs). The present study did not intend the clinical application of the SWe but exemplified that it is possible to suppress multiple virulence phenotypes simultaneously in vitro, suggesting a new therapeutic concept to combat S. aureus infection.},
}

*Biofilms/drug effects/growth & development
*Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects/pathogenicity/physiology/genetics
*Bacterial Proteins/metabolism/genetics
*Trans-Activators/metabolism/genetics
Virulence/drug effects
Virulence Factors/genetics/metabolism
Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/drug effects
Quorum Sensing/drug effects
Phenotype
Staphylococcal Infections/microbiology
*Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology
Protein Kinases
Transcription Factors

@article {pmid42731130,
year = {2026},
author = {Ha, G and Harrache, M and Lee, K},
title = {Conserved residues in the CHASE3 domain of BmsA are involved in motility and biofilm formation in Pseudomonas alkylphenolica KL28.},
journal = {Letters in applied microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/lambio/ovag079},
pmid = {42731130},
issn = {1472-765X},
abstract = {The bmsA gene of Pseudomonas alkylphenolica KL28T encodes a conserved protein involved in motility and multicellular biofilm formation. Sequence analysis revealed that BmsA contains an extracellular CHASE3 sensory domain, suggesting a role in environmental signal perception. To investigate its function, a CHASE3 domain deletion mutant and six alanine substitution mutants targeting conserved residues, including Arg73 and Phe75 within the RG(Y/F) motif, were constructed and introduced into a bmsA mutant background. SDS-PAGE confirmed the production of BmsA and its variants, although most proteins migrated at approximately 145 kDa, above the predicted 130.3 kDa. Phenotypic and motility analyses showed that deletion of the CHASE3 domain and substitution of Arg73 resulted in smooth colony morphology and reduced pellicle and aerial structure formation, similar to the phenotypes observed in the bmsA mutant. In addition, the Arg73 substitution exhibited increased swimming motility in soft agar, resembling the bmsA mutant phenotype. The other alanine substitutions showed no substantial phenotypic differences compared with the control strain. These results indicate that the conserved Arg73 residue within the RG(Y/F) motif of the CHASE3 domain contributes to the modulation of BmsA-dependent phenotypes in strain KL28.},
}

@article {pmid42731131,
year = {2026},
author = {Gao, H and Zhao, Y and Chen, L},
title = {Chitosan-dextran gel alleviates inflammation, biofilm formation, and abnormal cell proliferation in chronic cervicitis.},
journal = {Tissue & cell},
volume = {104},
number = {Pt 2},
pages = {103925},
doi = {10.1016/j.tice.2026.103925},
pmid = {42731131},
issn = {1532-3072},
abstract = {OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of chitosan-dextran gel in patients with chronic cervicitis by assessing its anti-inflammatory, anti-biofilm, and anti-proliferative activities.

METHODS: A total of 160 patients diagnosed with chronic cervicitis were randomly assigned to a control group (conventional pharmacotherapy) or an observation group (chitosan-dextran gel), with 80 participants in each. Serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Cervical biofilm formation was evaluated via microscopy, and cervical epithelial cell proliferation and apoptosis were assessed using the CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry. Treatment efficacy and the incidence of adverse reactions were recorded and compared between groups.

RESULTS: Following treatment, the observation group showed significantly lower TNF-α and CRP levels than the control group (P < 0.05). In addition, cervical biofilm coverage and thickness were markedly reduced, while cell viability decreased and apoptosis increased in the chitosan-dextran gel group compared with controls (P < 0.05). The overall clinical efficacy rate was significantly higher in the observation group (P < 0.05), and there was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Chitosan-dextran gel demonstrates strong anti-inflammatory, anti-biofilm, and anti-proliferative actions in patients with chronic cervicitis, effectively improving clinical outcomes without increasing adverse effects. These results indicate that chitosan-dextran gels may represent a novel and effective option for the treatment of chronic cervicitis.},
}

@article {pmid42726282,
year = {2026},
author = {Li, W and Deng, T and Shi, L and Wen, W},
title = {Probiotic Characterization and Anti-biofilm Activity of Ligilactobacillus salivarius: Implications for Periodontal Disease Management.},
journal = {Current microbiology},
volume = {83},
number = {11},
pages = {},
pmid = {42726282},
issn = {1432-0991},
support = {Anhui Provincial College Students' Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program (No. S202410368058)//the Anhui Provincial College Students' Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program/ ; },
mesh = {*Biofilms/drug effects/growth & development ; Porphyromonas gingivalis/physiology/drug effects ; *Probiotics/pharmacology ; Antioxidants/pharmacology/metabolism ; *Periodontal Diseases/microbiology/therapy ; Humans ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Porphyromonas gingivalis-driven periodontal disease is closely associated with pathogenic biofilm formation and oxidative stress-mediated tissue damage. This study evaluated the probiotic characteristics, antioxidant activity, and anti-biofilm effects of Ligilactobacillus salivarius and its cell-free supernatant (CFS). L. salivarius maintained growth under 0.8 mM H2O2, pH 5.0, and lysozyme exposure at 100 and 200 µg/mL, indicating tolerance to oxidative, acidic, and oral innate immune-related stresses. The strain showed an auto-aggregation rate of 56.6 ± 3.0% and co-aggregation rate with P. gingivalis of 46.7 ± 5.5%. Surface hydrophobicity was highest in chloroform (76.0 ± 3.0%), followed by ethyl acetate (39.1 ± 2.9%) and xylene (1.3 ± 0.9%). L. salivarius CFS exhibited strong antioxidant activity, with DPPH and ABTS radical-scavenging rates of 87.1 ± 4.0% and 97.8 ± 1.0%, respectively, and a FRAP value of 1.30 ± 0.06 µM FeE/mL. The MIC of CFS against P. gingivalis was 20% (v/v), and the inhibition zone was 12.5 mm. CFS treatment also reduced P. gingivalis biofilm biomass and increased non-viable cells within biofilms. No significant cytotoxicity toward gingival epithelial cells were observed at 2.5-20% CFS. These findings suggest that L. salivarius CFS has probiotic-associated, antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-biofilm potential in vitro, although further studies are required to identify active components and validate its periodontal protective effects in vivo.},
}

*Biofilms/drug effects/growth & development
Porphyromonas gingivalis/physiology/drug effects
*Probiotics/pharmacology
Antioxidants/pharmacology/metabolism
*Periodontal Diseases/microbiology/therapy
Humans
Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology/metabolism

@article {pmid42726334,
year = {2026},
author = {Furukido, R and Kurokawa, Y and Isobe, N and Suzuki, N},
title = {Effects of bovine lactoferrin on the growth and biofilm formation of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae associated with bovine mastitis.},
journal = {Veterinary research communications},
volume = {50},
number = {6},
pages = {},
pmid = {42726334},
issn = {1573-7446},
mesh = {Animals ; *Lactoferrin/pharmacology ; Cattle ; *Biofilms/drug effects/growth & development ; *Mastitis, Bovine/microbiology ; *Escherichia coli/drug effects/physiology/growth & development ; Female ; *Klebsiella pneumoniae/drug effects/physiology ; *Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests/veterinary ; Escherichia coli Infections/veterinary/microbiology ; *Klebsiella Infections/veterinary/microbiology ; },
abstract = {Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae are major causal pathogens of mastitis in dairy cows. In this study, we focus on bovine lactoferrin, an endogenous protein with antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities expressed in mammary glands. Given that the activity of lactoferrin against bovine mastitis-associated pathogens has yet to be fully elucidated, we sought to determine its effects on the growth and biofilm formation of E. coli and K. pneumoniae. We selected 24 and 20 isolates of E. coli and K. pneumoniae, respectively, including mastitis- and environmentally derived isolates, and examined the antimicrobial and antibiofilm effects of lactoferrin using a microdilution method and crystal violet staining, respectively. The percentages of E. coli and K. pneumoniae isolates for which we obtained lactoferrin minimum inhibitory concentration ≥ 4,000 µg/mL were 57% and 80%, respectively. At concentrations of 200 and 1,000 µg/mL, although lactoferrin caused significant reductions in the growth of both E. coli and K. pneumoniae, whereas biofilm formation by K. pneumoniae was inhibited, that of E. coli was paradoxically enhanced. These findings highlight that E. coli and K. pneumoniae, which have traditionally been grouped as coliforms in the context of bovine mastitis, have distinct responses when exposed to lactoferrin.},
}

Animals
*Lactoferrin/pharmacology
Cattle
*Biofilms/drug effects/growth & development
*Mastitis, Bovine/microbiology
*Escherichia coli/drug effects/physiology/growth & development
Female
*Klebsiella pneumoniae/drug effects/physiology
*Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology
Microbial Sensitivity Tests/veterinary
Escherichia coli Infections/veterinary/microbiology
*Klebsiella Infections/veterinary/microbiology

@article {pmid42726449,
year = {2026},
author = {Montaseri, M and Ganji, M and Rahiminejad, M and Bastani, MH},
title = {Phenotypic characterization of raw milk-associated Pseudomonas spp.: biofilm formation across different temperatures, antimicrobial resistance, and cytotoxicity.},
journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]},
volume = {57},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {42726449},
issn = {1678-4405},
support = {School of Veterinary Science, Shiraz University//School of Veterinary Science, Shiraz University/ ; },
mesh = {*Biofilms/growth & development/drug effects ; Animals ; *Milk/microbiology ; *Pseudomonas/drug effects/physiology/isolation & purification/genetics/classification ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Humans ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Caco-2 Cells ; Temperature ; Phenotype ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; },
abstract = {This study investigated biofilm formation, antimicrobial resistance, and in vitro cytotoxicity in 31 Pseudomonas isolates recovered from raw milk, and assessed relationships among these traits. Biofilm formation was evaluated at 7, 15, 25, 37, and 42 °C using Congo Red Agar (CRA) and Crystal Violet (CV) assays. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined by disk diffusion method, and cytotoxicity on Caco-2 cells was measured using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Associations were assessed using Spearman's rank correlation with Benjamini-Hochberg false discovery rate (FDR) correction. The highest frequency of CRA-positive phenotypes occurred at 25 °C (90.3%), while all isolates were classified as biofilm producers by CV at this temperature; biofilm formation was also widely observed at 7 and 15 °C. Some isolates provisionally assigned to P. veronii, P. brenneri, and P. fluorescens showed strong biofilm-associated phenotypes in both CRA and CV assays at low temperatures. Cytotoxicity ranged from 0.11% to 42.8%. Multidrug resistance was detected in 90.3% of isolates, with a mean multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index of 0.52. CRA phenotypes were negatively correlated with cytotoxicity at 15 and 25 °C (P < 0.05). No significant associations were found between cytotoxicity and MAR index, individual antibiotic susceptibility, or quantitative CV measurements (P > 0.05). Most nominal associations between biofilm formation and individual antibiotics did not remain significant. These findings highlight substantial phenotypic diversity among raw milk-associated Pseudomonas and the ability of many isolates to maintain biofilm-forming phenotypes under dairy-relevant temperatures.},
}

*Biofilms/growth & development/drug effects
Animals
*Milk/microbiology
*Pseudomonas/drug effects/physiology/isolation & purification/genetics/classification
Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology
Humans
Microbial Sensitivity Tests
Caco-2 Cells
Temperature
Phenotype
Drug Resistance, Bacterial

@article {pmid42727195,
year = {2026},
author = {Taira, EA and Ventura, TMO and Ferrari, CR and Pelá, VT and Francese, MM and Silva, GV and Meloni, VA and de Ataide, DSM and Da Silva, NDG and de Souza, EP and Buzalaf, MAR},
title = {Salivary enrichment with MaquiCPI-3 enhances acquired enamel pellicle properties and attenuates enamel mineral loss induced by microcosm biofilm.},
journal = {Archives of oral biology},
volume = {192},
number = {},
pages = {106743},
doi = {10.1016/j.archoralbio.2026.106743},
pmid = {42727195},
issn = {1879-1506},
abstract = {OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the interaction of a recombinant cystatin derived from Aristotelia chilensis, Maqui berry (MaquiCPI-3), with hydroxyapatite surfaces, its influence on salivary film formation and its potential to reduce biofilm-induced enamel demineralization.

DESIGN: Protein adsorption and film stability were assessed using Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation Monitoring (QCM-D) on hydroxyapatite-coated sensors, allowing real-time analysis of frequency and dissipation shifts. In vitro microcosm biofilm assays were performed using human saliva to simulate oral conditions, and enamel demineralization was quantified through transverse microradiography (TMR). Experimental groups included MaquiCPI-3 at 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 mg/mL, Sugarcane Cystatin (CaneCPI-5) at 0.1 mg/mL, Phosphate-Buffered Saline (PBS) as the negative control, and 0.12% Chlorhexidine (CHX) as a positive control.

RESULTS: MaquiCPI-3 at 0.5 mg/mL exhibited the highest adsorption and retention on hydroxyapatite, promoting the formation of a stable salivary film. QCM-D modeling revealed concentration-dependent differences in the viscoelastic properties of the adsorbed films. TMR analysis showed that MaquiCPI-3 at 0.5 mg/mL significantly reduced lesion depth compared with PBS, whereas the 0.1 and 1.0 mg/mL concentrations did not significantly differ from PBS. All MaquiCPI-3 concentrations significantly reduced mineral loss compared with PBS, with no significant differences among the three concentrations.

CONCLUSIONS: MaquiCPI-3 demonstrated potential to reduce enamel demineralization through modulation of surface-associated salivary film properties. At 0.5 mg/mL, it exhibited protective effects approaching those observed for CHX, highlighting its potential as a promising alternative for caries prevention and enamel protection.},
}

@article {pmid42727644,
year = {2026},
author = {Master, NG and Markande, AR},
title = {Functional amyloid BE-AM1 modulates microbial surface properties, biofilm formation, and adaptation to hydrocarbon stress.},
journal = {Journal of biotechnology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.jbiotec.2026.09.005},
pmid = {42727644},
issn = {1873-4863},
abstract = {Amyloid proteins are mainly known as misfolded aggregates associated with neurodegenerative diseases in humans and other eukaryotes. However, growing evidence shows that in bacteria, amyloids can serve important functional roles. These include facilitating surface attachment, forming amphipathic films, supporting biofilm development, and mediating interactions with the extracellular matrix and cell surfaces. In the present study, the bacterial amyloid bioemulsifier AM1 (BE-AM1), produced by Solibacillus silvestris AM1, was investigated for its effects on the growth of different microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and haloarchaea. The findings highlight its potential utility in antimicrobial applications and in broader biotechnological processes. These groups were selected to assess whether amyloid-mediated surface interactions are conserved across different microbial lineages. The addition of amyloid BE-AM1 increased the free-energy of interaction potential, as determined by contact-angle-based surface thermodynamic analysis, indicating reduced cell-surface hydrophobicity in the tested bacterial, haloarchaeal, and fungal strains. Furthermore, the presence of functional amyloids enhanced secreted protease activity in three bacterial strains and amylase activity in S. silvestris, increased tolerance to hydrocarbons, and promoted microbial growth using hydrocarbons as the sole carbon source. The ability of amyloid BE-AM1 to influence biofilm formation was also investigated in other bacterial species that produce their amyloid proteins. This study improves insight into interspecies interactions involving amyloid proteins and offers a foundation for future research of broader relevance to the amyloid field.},
}

@article {pmid42728196,
year = {2026},
author = {Crowther, A and Keller, SB and LuTheryn, G and Garcia-Maset, R and Sutton, JM and Hind, C and Stride, E and Parhizkar, M and Carugo, D},
title = {Disrupting Biofilms by Combining Ultrasound-Stimulated Microbubbles, Anti-Biofilm Agents and Antibiotics.},
journal = {Ultrasound in medicine & biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2026.07.031},
pmid = {42728196},
issn = {1879-291X},
abstract = {OBJECTIVE: Chronic infections are often sustained by biofilms, which exhibit high tolerance to antimicrobials and immune clearance. Ultrasound (US)-stimulated microbubbles (MBs) have shown promise for biofilm disruption, yet their integration with chemical anti-biofilm agents and antibiotics has not been systematically explored. This study reports, for the first time, the combined application of MBs with tetrasodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (T-EDTA), nitric oxide (NO)-releasing NONOates (PAPA NONOate and spermine NONOate) and ciprofloxacin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 biofilms.

METHODS: P. aeruginosa PAO1 biofilms were grown in Ibidi channel slides in LB broth for 24 or 48 h. Biofilms were then treated with lipid-shell MBs in combination with anti-biofilm agents (4% w/v T-EDTA or 250 µM NONOates) and 0.25 µg/mL ciprofloxacin. Biofilms were exposed to US at 1.1 MHz and 1.0 MPa peak-negative pressure. Biofilm surface area was determined by fluorescence microscopy.

RESULTS: MBs demonstrated stable physicochemical properties and cavitation profiles, with 1 MPa peak-negative pressure producing the greatest biofilm dispersal. Among all regimens, T-EDTA combined with ciprofloxacin and US-stimulated MBs achieved the most consistent and substantial biofilm removal, highlighting multimodal efficacy combining physical disruption, matrix modification and antibiotic action. NONOates showed limited benefit when paired with US-stimulated MBs, suggesting cavitation does not enhance NO-mediated dispersal. Biofilm maturity (24 vs. 48 h) significantly influenced treatment outcomes, with early stage biofilms responding more readily to cavitation-driven disruption.

CONCLUSION: These findings establish a novel multimodal strategy for anti-biofilm therapy and underscore the importance of considering biofilm developmental stage in ultrasound-enhanced treatment design.},
}

@article {pmid42730256,
year = {2026},
author = {Jung, EA and Kim, H and Yokoyama, WH and Nitin, N and Seo, KH},
title = {Comparative inhibition of oral pathogens, biofilm formation, and inflammation-related responses by postbiotics from Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens DD2.},
journal = {Journal of oral microbiology},
volume = {18},
number = {1},
pages = {2712769},
doi = {10.1080/20002297.2026.2712769},
pmid = {42730256},
issn = {2000-2297},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Postbiotics derived from lactic acid bacteria are attracting significant interest as safe and stable alternatives to live probiotics for controlling oral biofilms and inflammation.

OBJECTIVE: Building on previous research that identified Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens DD2 as a potent anti-cariogenic strain, we compared antimicrobial, anti-biofilm, and anti-inflammatory properties of postbiotics produced by DD2 with those from two newly isolated kefir strains (LKF4 and LK12) and two commercial probiotics, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ATCC 3105 and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus ATCC 7469.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cell-free postbiotics were evaluated for their antimicrobial and anti-biofilm activities against major oral pathogens, including Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sobrinus, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Porphyromonas gulae. Furthermore, their immunomodulatory effects were investigated in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages through nitric oxide assays and reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS: All tested postbiotics significantly inhibited planktonic growth and biofilm formation of the pathogens (p < 0.05), and DD2 consistently demonstrated the strongest suppression across all species. In macrophages, DD2-derived postbiotics markedly reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators (Cox2, Nos2, Tnf-α, and Il-1β) to approximately 0.5-fold relative to the control, while inducing the highest levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine Il-10. DD2 upregulated Tlr4, Nrf2, and Ho-1 mRNA, indicating the preservation of pathogen sensing and the activation of cytoprotective pathways via the Nrf2/Ho-1 signaling axis. Notably, this multi-targeted approach highlighted DD2's superior efficacy compared to other kefir and commercial strains.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the potential of DD2-derived postbiotics as bioactive alternatives for managing oral pathogens, biofilm formation, and inflammation relevant to oral health. Further studies are needed to identify the active components and to validate these effects in oral in vivo models.},
}

@article {pmid42730895,
year = {2026},
author = {Baser, S and Celebi, D and Celebi, O and Kara, A and Turkes, C},
title = {Synergistic effects of luteolin and Lactobacillus rhamnosus on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus biofilm inhibition: in vitro and in silico molecular deployment studies.},
journal = {Folia microbiologica},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {42730895},
issn = {1874-9356},
support = {TCD-2025-1075//Erzincan Binali Yıldırım University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Office/ ; },
abstract = {Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) remains one of the leading causes of healthcare-associated infections due to its remarkable biofilm-forming ability and multidrug resistance, highlighting the urgent need for alternative antimicrobial strategies. The present study investigated the antibacterial, antibiofilm, antivirulence, and cytotoxic effects of luteolin alone and in combination with Lactobacillus rhamnosus bacterial suspension natant against MRSA. Antibacterial activity was evaluated using minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), disk diffusion, and fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) assays. Biofilm inhibition was quantified using the crystal violet method, while the expression levels of biofilm-associated genes (icaA, icaB, icaC, icaD, clfA, clfB, fnbA, and fnbB) were determined by quantitative real-time PCR. Molecular docking analysis was performed to investigate the interaction between luteolin and S. aureus Sortase A (SrtA), and the cytotoxic potential of the treatments was evaluated in human dermal fibroblast (HDF) cells using the WST-8 assay. Luteolin exhibited MIC and MBC values of 128 and 256 µg/mL, respectively, whereas L. rhamnosus bacterial suspension natant also demonstrated antibacterial activity against MRSA. Combination treatment significantly increased the inhibition zone diameter and produced a synergistic interaction with an FIC index of 0.50. Moreover, the combination inhibited biofilm formation by approximately 75%, markedly exceeding the inhibitory effects of either treatment alone. Gene expression analysis revealed dose-dependent modulation of several biofilm-associated genes, particularly suppression of fnbA, suggesting interference with bacterial adhesion mechanisms. Molecular docking demonstrated favorable binding of luteolin to the active site of Sortase A with a predicted binding energy of - 9.220 kcal/mol, supporting its potential antivirulence mechanism. No significant cytotoxicity was observed in HDF cells within the tested concentration range. Collectively, these results demonstrate that luteolin combined with L. rhamnosus bacterial suspension natant represents a promising natural therapeutic strategy for controlling MRSA infections by simultaneously targeting bacterial growth, biofilm formation, and virulence while maintaining acceptable biocompatibility.},
}

@article {pmid42730929,
year = {2026},
author = {Rezk, A and Said, HS and Elfeky, SM and El-Mowafy, M and Hassan, R},
title = {Disulfiram reverses fluconazole-resistance mediated by Cdr1 in Candida albicans and interferes with biofilm formation.},
journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology},
volume = {110},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {42730929},
issn = {1432-0614},
mesh = {*Disulfiram/pharmacology ; *Fluconazole/pharmacology ; *Candida albicans/drug effects/isolation & purification/genetics/physiology ; *Biofilms/drug effects/growth & development ; *Fungal Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; *Antifungal Agents/pharmacology ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; *Drug Resistance, Fungal/drug effects ; *Membrane Transport Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; Humans ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Candidiasis/microbiology ; Drug Synergism ; },
abstract = {The incidence of Candida albicans infections has risen markedly, particularly among immunocompromised individuals and cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Fluconazole is commonly used as a first-line treatment for C. albicans infections; however, increasing clinical resistance poses a significant therapeutic challenge. As a result, developing new strategies to enhance the management of C. albicans infections has become critical. This study aims to assess the prevalence of azole's resistance among clinical C. albicans isolates in Egypt and to evaluate disulfiram/fluconazole combination against fluconazole resistant isolates. A total of 64 C. albicans clinical isolates were tested for fluconazole susceptibility using disc diffusion method and broth microdilution method (alone and in combination with disulfiram). The combination of fluconazole and disulfiram was further assessed using checkerboard method. The expression levels of resistance determinants were analyzed using RT-PCR. Molecular docking was used for further analysis. Sixteen isolates (25%) were resistant to fluconazole. Combination with subinhibitory concentration of disulfiram reduced the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of fluconazole in resistant isolates (2-128 fold). Checkerboard assay revealed that fluconazole/disulfiram combination was mostly synergistic. In fluconazole-resistant isolates, Cdr1 was overexpressed, whereas disulfiram (at subinhibitory concentration) has triggered its downregulation. Docking studies showed that disulfiram may compete with ATP for binding and may disrupt fluconazole's interaction with Cdr1. Additionally, disulfiram exhibited a potent anti-biofilm activity against the tested C. albicans isolates. Fluconazole/disulfiram combination appears to be a promising approach for overcoming fluconazole resistance in C. albicans. Further studies are needed to validate this finding and explore its clinical potential. KEY POINTS: • Fluconazole/disulfiram combination is a promising approach to overcome fluconazole resistance in C. albicans • Disulfiram triggered downregulation of Cdr1 expression in fluconazole-resistant C. albicans. • Disulfiram competes with ATP for Cdr1 binding, disrupting fluconazole-Cdr1 interaction.},
}

*Disulfiram/pharmacology
*Fluconazole/pharmacology
*Candida albicans/drug effects/isolation & purification/genetics/physiology
*Biofilms/drug effects/growth & development
*Fungal Proteins/metabolism/genetics
*Antifungal Agents/pharmacology
Microbial Sensitivity Tests
*Drug Resistance, Fungal/drug effects
*Membrane Transport Proteins/metabolism/genetics
Humans
Molecular Docking Simulation
Candidiasis/microbiology
Drug Synergism

@article {pmid42721469,
year = {2026},
author = {Loftus, RW and Dexter, F and Patel, HM and Parra, MC and Charnin, JE and Brown, JR},
title = {Perioperative Staphylococcus aureus Phenotypic Screening to Detect Chlorhexidine Tolerance and Strength of Biofilm Formation for Optimization of Surgical Site Infection Preventive Measures.},
journal = {Anesthesia and analgesia},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1213/ANE.0000000000008315},
pmid = {42721469},
issn = {1526-7598},
}

@article {pmid42721801,
year = {2026},
author = {Ahmmed, MT and Prapti, BBR and Islam, T and Arnop, KMA and Rahman, A and Amin, MA and Rahman, MA and Haque, N and Yasmin, S and Siddique, MP},
title = {Molecular epidemiology of multidrug-resistant uropathogenic Escherichia coli: Virulence, biofilm formation, phylogenetic distribution, and genetic diversity.},
journal = {Journal of infection and public health},
volume = {19},
number = {10},
pages = {103358},
doi = {10.1016/j.jiph.2026.103358},
pmid = {42721801},
issn = {1876-035X},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Escherichia coli mediated urinary tract infections (UTIs) are an increasing public health concern, especially in low- and middle-income nations. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, antimicrobial resistance and virulence profile, biofilm forming ability with phylogenetic distribution and genetic diversity of uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) isolated from UTI patients.

METHODS: A total of 718 urine samples were collected from the diagnostic outpatient department of Mymensingh Medical College, Mymensingh, Bangladesh. Samples were analyzed using standard culture technique, and E. coli was identified by MALDI-TOF MS and PCR. Phenotypic antibiotic resistance was detected by the disc diffusion method. Both CRA and CVMP techniques were used to identify the biofilm forming ability. Virulence and resistance genes were identified by PCR. Genetic diversity was studied through phylogrouping, ERIC-PCR, and sequencing of 16 s rRNA gene.

RESULT: 125 (17.41%) samples showed significant bacteriuria and were confirmed as UTI cases. E. coli was identified in 38 (30.4%) of these cases and most of the isolates were recovered from females (63.2%) and individuals aged 15-35 years (47.4%). High resistance was observed against meropenem (100%) and amoxicillin (100%), while nitrofurantoin (7.9%) and imipenem (23.7%) had the lowest resistance rate. All of the study isolates were either MDR (66%) or XDR (34%). blaOXA (81.6%), blaCTX-M (55.3%), and qnrA (89.5%) were most prevalent resistance genes. A strong positive correlation (rₛ = 0.719, p < 0.001) was found between resistance gene load and the multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index. crl (100%), uidA (100%), and csgA (94.7%) were highly prevalent virulence genes. Approximately 85% of isolates were biofilm producer. Phylogenetic group B2 (36.82%) was predominant and significantly associated with virulence gene carriage and biofilm formation. Furthermore, ERIC PCR revealed a considerable genetic variability among the study isolates.

CONCLUSION: These findings highlight the alarming spread of MDR and XDR E. coli strains with high virulence potential, emphasizing the need for continuous monitoring and judicious antibiotic use.},
}

@article {pmid42722168,
year = {2026},
author = {Liu, Y and Li, B and Najman, MA and Huang, S and Qi, Y and Kim, DH and Sim, YB and Kim, SH and Ratnaweera, H and Zhang, H and Shi, X},
title = {Steering carbon and nitrogen toward biopolymer recovery in synthetic municipal wastewater using an intertidal wetland sediment-seeded biofilm-based reactor.},
journal = {Bioresource technology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {135837},
doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2026.135837},
pmid = {42722168},
issn = {1873-2976},
abstract = {Recovering value-added biopolymers from municipal wastewater offers a promising route to improve the sustainability of wastewater treatment. In this study, two moving bed biofilm reactors (MBBRs) seeded with intertidal wetland sediment (IWS) (Riws) and conventional activated sludge (AS) (Ras) were operated in parallel for synthetic municipal wastewater treatment and biopolymer recovery. A higher total nitrogen (TN) removal efficiency was achieved in the Riws than in the Ras (92.4 ± 0.5% and 80.1 ± 3.8%, respectively). Moreover, Riws achieved a higher alginate-like exopolymers (ALE) yield than Ras, reaching 374.3 ± 10.5 mg/g VSS compared with 242.6 ± 8.4 mg/g VSS. The recovered ALE from Riws also contained more protein (890.0 ± 11.7 mg/g ALE) and showed a higher alginate-equivalent response (598.6 ± 32.5 mg/g ALE). Estimated COD and nitrogen partitioning further showed that ALE-associated COD accounted for 17.5% of influent COD in Riws and 6.9% in Ras, while ALE protein-associated N represented 19.1% and 5.9% of influent TN, respectively. Moreover, metagenomic analysis showed that the mature Riws biofilm had higher abundances of genes associated with nitrogen assimilation and denitrification, together with genes involved in ALE biosynthesis, and extracellular-polymer regulation through quorum sensing and c-di-GMP-related pathways. These functional differences were consistent with the greater retention of wastewater carbon and protein-associated nitrogen in recoverable ALE in Riws. These results demonstrate that inoculum selection can effectively regulate microbial assembly and redirect wastewater carbon and nitrogen toward extracellular biopolymer synthesis and recovery, providing a feasible strategy for wastewater valorization.},
}

@article {pmid42722551,
year = {2026},
author = {Baldodiya, GM and Parangi, S and Mishra, G and Jain, S and Soni, N and Bissa, B and Pandey, J and Prusty, D},
title = {Corrigendum to "Phytochemical-mediated disruption of Staphylococcus aureus biofilm by Tecomella undulata, Dalbergia sissoo, Heliotropium indicum, and Solanum virginianum extracts via targeting extracellular matrix" [Microb. Pathog. 219 (2026) 108763].},
journal = {Microbial pathogenesis},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {108817},
doi = {10.1016/j.micpath.2026.108817},
pmid = {42722551},
issn = {1096-1208},
}

@article {pmid42723011,
year = {2026},
author = {Wang, S and Wang, P and Liu, Y and Yu, Q and Zhang, Y and Ma, X and Wei, M},
title = {Integrated transcriptomic and proteomic profiling reveals alteration of oxidative phosphorylation in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid-mediated inhibition of Candida albicans biofilm formation.},
journal = {BMC microbiology},
volume = {26},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {42723011},
issn = {1471-2180},
mesh = {*Candida albicans/drug effects/genetics/metabolism/physiology ; *Biofilms/drug effects/growth & development ; *Oxidative Phosphorylation/drug effects ; Proteomics/methods ; Eicosapentaenoic Acid/pharmacology ; Docosahexaenoic Acids/pharmacology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Antifungal Agents/pharmacology ; Transcriptome ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; *Fatty Acids, Omega-3/pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal/drug effects ; Proteome ; Multiomics ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Candida albicans biofilms are highly tolerant to conventional antifungals, posing a major clinical challenge. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), particularly docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), exhibit antibiofilm activity, but their mechanisms remain incompletely understood.

METHODS: Integrated transcriptomic and proteomic approaches were used to investigate the antibiofilm activity of DHA and EPA against C. albicans ATCC 90028. Biofilm inhibition was assessed by crystal violet staining and XTT reduction assays. Biofilm cells treated with 1 mM DHA or EPA (sub-MIC, both MICs > 1 mM) were subjected to RNA‑seq and DIA proteomics. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and proteins (DEPs) were identified, and integrated KEGG pathway analysis was conducted.

RESULTS: Both DHA and EPA inhibited biofilm formation at 1 mM without affecting planktonic growth. DHA altered 1787 transcripts (750 up, 1037 down) and 554 proteins (170 up, 384 down). EPA altered 905 transcripts (446 up, 459 down) and 259 proteins (104 up, 155 down). DHA suppressed ribosome biogenesis and oxidative phosphorylation at both mRNA and protein levels. In contrast, EPA transcriptionally down-regulated DNA replication genes while affecting oxidative phosphorylation predominantly via post-transcriptional mechanisms. Integrated analysis identified oxidative phosphorylation and central carbon metabolism as core convergent targets, with DHA showing more extensive metabolic disruption than EPA.

CONCLUSION: DHA and EPA suppress C. albicans biofilms through distinct regulatory modes that converge on pathways linked to mitochondrial energy metabolism. These findings provide a molecular framework for omega-3 PUFA-based antibiofilm strategies and underscore the value of multi-omics integration in generating insights into complex drug mechanisms.},
}

*Candida albicans/drug effects/genetics/metabolism/physiology
*Biofilms/drug effects/growth & development
*Oxidative Phosphorylation/drug effects
Proteomics/methods
Eicosapentaenoic Acid/pharmacology
Docosahexaenoic Acids/pharmacology
Gene Expression Profiling
*Antifungal Agents/pharmacology
Transcriptome
Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism
Microbial Sensitivity Tests
*Fatty Acids, Omega-3/pharmacology
Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal/drug effects
Proteome
Multiomics

@article {pmid42723628,
year = {2026},
author = {Xu, KZ and Meng, D and Yin, LJ and Wang, M and Li, J},
title = {Repurposing GS-441524 to inhibit biofilm formation and virulence of Bacillus cereus.},
journal = {Biofouling},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {1-12},
doi = {10.1080/08927014.2026.2730440},
pmid = {42723628},
issn = {1029-2454},
abstract = {Bacillus cereus is a resilient foodborne pathogen, with biofilm formation and virulence regulated by quorum sensing (QS). This study evaluates GS-441524, the active metabolite of remdesivir, as an anti-virulence agent against B. cereus. At sub-inhibitory concentrations, GS-441524 dose-dependently reduced protease, lipase, hemolysin, and AI-2 production, impaired motility, and inhibited biofilm formation. Gene expression analysis showed downregulation of key QS (papR, luxS, plcR) and toxin (hblD, cytK, nprB) genes. Molecular docking indicated strong binding to HblD. In a Galleria mellonella model, GS-441524 enhanced survival upon B. cereus challenge. These findings demonstrate that GS-441524 disrupts QS and virulence, offering a promising strategy to control B. cereus.},
}

@article {pmid42725769,
year = {2026},
author = {Van Rossum, U and Heyndrickx, M and Demaître, N and Sadiq, FA and Boon, N and Rasschaert, G and Cools, A and De Reu, K},
title = {Biofilm formation and multispecies interactions of bacteria recovered from drinking water systems in broiler houses and piglet nursery units.},
journal = {Microbiology spectrum},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0108426},
doi = {10.1128/spectrum.01084-26},
pmid = {42725769},
issn = {2165-0497},
abstract = {The presence of biofilms on the surfaces of drinking water systems in livestock housing can compromise the microbiological quality of drinking water. Understanding the biofilm microbiome and the biofilm-forming capacity of its dominant species is therefore essential, particularly for identifying species that coexist and enhance biofilm formation through interactions. This study investigated 248 bacterial isolates representing the dominant microbiota of biofilm samples collected from drinking water systems in broiler houses and pig nursery units. Biofilm formation was assessed in both single-species cultures and 341 multispecies combinations. Of the tested isolates, 80% formed biofilms in single culture; however, only 25% were classified as strong biofilm formers. In multispecies combinations with up to four species or isolates, antagonistic or competitive interactions were dominant, whereas biofilm mass enhancement was observed in only a limited number of combinations. These included opportunistic pathogens, with Citrobacter freundii and Staphylococcus nepalensis identified as key species driving the interactions. Our research highlights the importance of specific microbial interactions in biofilm development and provides a potentially practice relevant four-species model to guide future research aimed at improving strategies for controlling biofilms in livestock drinking water systems.IMPORTANCEEnsuring the quality of drinking water on livestock production farms benefits animal production and health. Persistent biofilms on water line surfaces can lead to microbial contamination, resulting in lower-quality drinking water. This study examines bacteria commonly found in biofilms within livestock drinking water systems in pig nursery units and broiler houses. Most bacterial isolates can form biofilms in monoculture. Specific interactions among certain species primarily mediate bacterial interactions that enhance biofilm biomass in multispecies communities. Identifying these key interactions enables the development of a synthetic model to guide research on controlling biofilms in livestock drinking water systems.},
}

@article {pmid42725979,
year = {2026},
author = {Frederick, EH and Nair, SS and Jayatilake, S and Wardell, SJT and Bremer, P and Pletzer, D},
title = {Antibiofilm Peptides Revisited: From Biofilm Models and Metrics to Mechanisms and Translation.},
journal = {ACS infectious diseases},
volume = {12},
number = {9},
pages = {2900-2921},
doi = {10.1021/acsinfecdis.6c00266},
pmid = {42725979},
issn = {2373-8227},
support = {NA//University of Otago/ ; UOO2453//Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment/ ; },
mesh = {*Biofilms/drug effects ; *Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology/chemistry ; *Antimicrobial Peptides/pharmacology/chemistry ; Humans ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; *Bacteria/drug effects ; *Peptides/pharmacology/chemistry ; },
abstract = {Biofilm-associated infections contribute substantially to the antimicrobial resistance-related burden by promoting persistent, difficult-to-treat infections. Antibiotic failure often reflects biofilm recalcitrance (tolerance and persistence) and, in some contexts, the enhanced selection and dissemination of resistance. To overcome this burden, antibiofilm peptides (ABPs) are emerging as a versatile solution. ABPs can inhibit biofilm development, weaken established biofilms, and synergize with existing antimicrobials. This review highlights current biofilm models and susceptibility end points, emphasizing how experimental design and readout selection shape conclusions about ABP activity and comparability across studies. We describe ABP discovery, the sequence-property features that drive activity, and outline key modes of action. These include reprogramming biofilm-associated regulatory pathways, targeting conserved nucleotide signaling networks such as guanosine tetraphosphate (ppGpp) and cyclic di-GMP (c-di-GMP), matrix-directed effects, and biofilm-specific tolerance and resistance mechanisms that may limit ABP durability. Finally, we briefly discuss translational considerations and selected clinical and industrial use cases for ABPs, emphasizing the importance of improving and assessing their stability, delivery, and selectivity under physiological and industrially relevant conditions.},
}

*Biofilms/drug effects
*Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology/chemistry
*Antimicrobial Peptides/pharmacology/chemistry
Humans
Drug Resistance, Bacterial
*Bacteria/drug effects
*Peptides/pharmacology/chemistry

@article {pmid42710131,
year = {2026},
author = {Elsamahy, T and Mohamad, OAA and Li, X and Liu, YH and Rajivgandhi, G and Li, S and Peng, C and Abdelkarim, EA and Hatab, S and Zhang, Y and Li, WJ},
title = {Exploring the mechanism of low-density polyethylene depolymerization and extracellular electron transfer at bio-nano interfaces mediated by biofilm-forming electroactive bacteria.},
journal = {Journal of hazardous materials},
volume = {517},
number = {},
pages = {143500},
doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.143500},
pmid = {42710131},
issn = {1873-3336},
abstract = {The environmental persistence of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) results from its hydrophobic surface and inert C-C backbone, which restrict microbial colonization and oxidative chain breakdown. Although extracellular electron transfer (EET) is a defining feature of electroactive bacteria (EAB), its role in polyolefin oxidation remains understood. Here, we developed a hybrid bio-nano platform combining EAB from plastic-contaminated soils with Fe3O4-NPs to enhance LDPE biodegradation by integrating EET-associated redox activity, biofilm formation, and oxidative catalysis. The selected strains, Acinetobacter johnsonii PDB-22 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa PDB-38, exhibited biofilm-forming capacity (1.20 ± 0.13 and 0.98 ± 0.10, respectively) and electrochemical activity. The integration of Fe3O4-NPs accelerated the biodegradation, resulting in reductions in polymer weight (11.2 ± 1.2% and 10.5 ± 0.3%, respectively), crystallinity (32.8% and 24.7% relative reduction, respectively), tensile strength (55.0% and 38.8% reduction, respectively), and molecular weight (18.0% Mw reduction for PDB-22-NPs). Mechanistically, Fe3O4-NPs enhanced oxidative enzyme activities and altered their temporal catalytic behavior, consistent with more sustained ROS-associated oxidative depolymerization. Metabolomic profiling revealed strain-specific oxidative transformation patterns, consistent with differences in LDPE depolymerization. These findings support a functional contribution of EET-associated redox activity to LDPE oxidation at the bacteria-NP-polymer interface and provide a promising strategy for plastic bioremediation and a circular bioeconomy.},
}

@article {pmid42711243,
year = {2026},
author = {Hirschbiegel, CM and Hassan, MA and Cicek, YA and Ndugire, W and Abdelaziz, M and Truong, J and Yang, J and Nasim, N and Shrikanth, M and Rotello, VM},
title = {Bioorthogonal Polymer Nanozymes for Effective Treatment of Bacterial Wound Biofilm Infections.},
journal = {ACS applied materials & interfaces},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1021/acsami.6c12077},
pmid = {42711243},
issn = {1944-8252},
abstract = {Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections are a rapidly emerging healthcare crisis. The challenge of MDR bacteria is further exacerbated through biofilm formation that limits effective drug penetration and hinders the ability of the host immune system to clear the infection. Cationic polymer nanoparticles carrying bioorthogonal transition-metal catalysts (polyzymes) can penetrate bacterial biofilms and locally catalyze the uncaging of antimicrobial drug derivatives, acting as an in situ bioorthogonal "drug factory". Polyzymes were designed and fabricated using an amphiphilic polymer nanoscaffold and iron(III) tetraphenyl porphyrin as the catalyst. The polyzyme bioorthogonally uncaged an azide-protected prodrug of the antimicrobial drug moxifloxacin. The efficacy of this approach was tested in vitro against an in vitro Escherichia coli (E. coli) biofilm, resulting in a ∼3.5-log10 colony-forming units (CFU/mL) reduction of bacterial load (99.99%). The polyzyme was subsequently incorporated into a thermoresponsive Poloxamer 407 hydrogel to create a wound dressing, and the localized activation of pro-moxifloxacin was tested in an in vivo E. coli wound biofilm model. The polyzyme-mediated localized activation of the prodrug was highly effective, resulting in significantly more bacterial killing compared to the free drug moxifloxacin. These results demonstrate the therapeutic potential of bioorthogonal polyzymes for treating wound biofilm infections, with enhanced local activity and improved treatment outcomes compared to standard clinical treatment methods.},
}

@article {pmid42713544,
year = {2026},
author = {Gao, H and Khan, S and Qi, X and Lin, Z and Liu, G and Lv, Y and Zhang, M and Xia, Z and Wu, N},
title = {Seasonal Effect of a Small Hydropower Plant on Benthic Biofilm Microbial Community Structure and Predicted Functional Potential.},
journal = {Ecology and evolution},
volume = {16},
number = {9},
pages = {e74330},
pmid = {42713544},
issn = {2045-7758},
abstract = {Benthic biofilm microbial communities play a critical role in riverine primary production, nutrient cycling, and organic matter decomposition, yet their responses to hydrological alterations due to small hydropower plants (SHPs) remain poorly understood, particularly with respect to seasonal dynamics. This study conducted a one-year monitoring survey across four river sections (upstream, reservoir, dewatered reach, and downstream) in the Oujiang River Basin, Zhejiang Province, China, covering all four seasons. The results showed that the reservoir section exhibited distinct bacterial composition, while the dewatered reach harbored the highest diversity, broader niche breadth, and was governed by stochastic assembly processes. Seasonally, deterministic processes dominated in summer, whereas stochastic processes prevailed in winter. Predicted functional profiling suggested that the SHP may exert a regulatory role in carbon and nutrient metabolism, with pronounced functional differences observed in summer. This study indicates that SHPs reshape microbial assembly and predicted function by altering hydrological regimes. As an observational case study based on a single representative facility, these findings should be interpreted as hypothesis-generating rather than conclusive; however, they provide key ecological insights and a methodological reference for future impact assessments of similar diversion-type SHPs in subtropical river systems.},
}

@article {pmid42714412,
year = {2026},
author = {},
title = {Correction: Prevalence, genetic diversity, antibiotic resistance and biofilm formation of Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from urban environments.},
journal = {Journal of applied microbiology},
volume = {137},
number = {9},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jambio/lxag225},
pmid = {42714412},
issn = {1365-2672},
}

@article {pmid42717305,
year = {2026},
author = {Villafuerte, KRV and Reis, FJCD and Carrara, HHA and Martinez, CH and Palioto, DB},
title = {Integrating Supragingival Scaling and Biofilm Management Into Breast Cancer Patients' Care.},
journal = {International journal of dental hygiene},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/idh.70156},
pmid = {42717305},
issn = {1601-5037},
support = {2012/20971-8//Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo/ ; },
abstract = {OBJECTIVE: The study was designed as a quasi-experimental clinical trial to evaluate the impact of chemotherapy on periodontal conditions, haematology and salivary flow in patients with breast cancer and gingivitis, after supragingival scaling.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: They were divided into patients with breast cancer and gingivitis (BC/G = 20); and patients without cancer with gingivitis (G = 20). Clinical parameters [Plaque Index (PI), bleeding on probing (BOP), Probing Depth (PD), Clinical Attachment Level (CAL)], haematological parameters (complete blood count) and salivary flow were evaluated at baseline, 6, 12 and 24 weeks.

RESULTS: After supragingival scaling, both groups exhibited a reduction in BOP and PI. However, the group without cancer (G) showed a significantly (p < 0.05) greater reduction at weeks 12 and 24 compared to the group with cancer (BC/G). In the haematological parameters, the G group showed higher haemoglobin and red blood cell levels than the BC/G group at 6, 12 and 24 weeks (p < 0.05). The salivary flow rate was decreased at 6, 12 and 24 weeks in cancer patients (< 0.3 mL/min); however, they did not show hyposalivation (< 0.1 mL/min).

CONCLUSION: Chemotherapy negatively impacts periodontal conditions, making it difficult to control inflammation, affects haematological parameters and reduces salivary flow rate, although without causing hyposalivation. This highlights the need for the application of supragingival scaling with strict biofilm control in breast cancer patients.},
}

@article {pmid42718900,
year = {2026},
author = {Codina Alonso, V and Lopez Oliver, D and Massa, H},
title = {Serratia marcescens corneal abscess with pink biofilm clue.},
journal = {American journal of ophthalmology case reports},
volume = {44},
number = {},
pages = {102646},
pmid = {42718900},
issn = {2451-9936},
}

@article {pmid42709547,
year = {2026},
author = {Das Ghatak, P and Muniz de Oliveira, F and Yadav, A and Abouhashem, AS and Srivastava, R and Banerjee, P and Mukherjee, S and Singh, S and Singh, K and Zamarripa, C and Gordillo, GM and Sen, CK and Ghatak, S and Roy, S},
title = {Staphylococcus aureus biofilm infection impairs efferocytosis in wound-macrophages via induction of a MARCO[hi]MERTK[lo] subset.},
journal = {Cell reports},
volume = {45},
number = {9},
pages = {117915},
doi = {10.1016/j.celrep.2026.117915},
pmid = {42709547},
issn = {2211-1247},
abstract = {Chronic, non-healing wounds are sustained by Staphylococcus aureus biofilms, yet how biofilm reprograms the immune cells tasked with resolving injury has remained unclear. We show that biofilm-derived soluble cues, not bacterial contact, generate a previously undescribed biofilm-associated macrophage (BAM) subset marked by high Macrophage receptor with collagenous structure (MARCO) and suppressed MERTK, which recognizes apoptotic cells but fails to engulf them. Using isogenic S. aureus USA300 variants of graded biofilm capacity, only high biofilm-conditioned medium elicited this state in human macrophages; MARCO neutralization restored corpse clearance. Mechanistically, biofilm factors drove phospho-C/EBPβ into the nucleus to repress MERTK, severing sensing from engulfment. Single-cell and Xenium spatial transcriptomics, with cytometry by time of flight (CyTOF) and PhenoCycler, localized BAMs to biofilm-proximal niches as a hybrid CD64[+]CD163[+] state outside M1/M2 categories, populating 60%-80% of infected chronic wounds. In vivo, myeloid-restricted MARCO overexpression by tissue nanotransfection recapitulated impaired efferocytosis and persistent inflammation, nominating MARCO[hi]MERTK[lo] macrophages as a druggable checkpoint in biofilm-associated disease.},
}

@article {pmid42709980,
year = {2026},
author = {Lu, S and Wei, X and Jiang, S and Wang, D and Liu, X and Hu, Y and Chen, Y and Ma, H and Ding, P and Kai, T},
title = {Hydrogel-Delivered Standardized Pomegranate (Punica granatum) Extract Suppresses Quorum Sensing and Disrupts the Biofilm Structure in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.},
journal = {ACS applied bio materials},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1021/acsabm.6c01343},
pmid = {42709980},
issn = {2576-6422},
support = {2023QYJC013//Central South University/ ; 2026ZZTS0541//Central South University/ ; SDFEYVS2426//Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University/ ; },
abstract = {Pomegranate (Punica granatum) peel is a rich source of polyphenols with recognized bioactivities. This study evaluated the quorum sensing (QS)-inhibitory and anti-biofilm properties of a standardized pomegranate extract, as well as its major ellagitannins (punicalagin and ellagic acid), against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an important opportunistic pathogen associated with multidrug-resistant infections. Using the P. aeruginosa strain (ATCC 27853) and the QS biosensor Chromobacterium violaceum, the pomegranate extract and punicalagin (MIC = 0.5 and 0.1 mg/mL, respectively) suppressed the production of QS-regulated virulence factors (pyocyanin >80%, rhamnolipids >60%), inhibited bacterial motility, and disrupted biofilm formation (>70%) without inducing resistance. Cytotoxicity assays demonstrated the favorable cytocompatibility of the extract in mammalian cells. To enable localized delivery, a mechanically robust polyvinyl alcohol-chitosan (PVA-CS) hydrogel was developed. Structural characterization revealed a porous, hydrogen-bond-stabilized structure with enhanced thermal stability, favorable swelling behavior, and excellent moisture retention. Under simulated infection conditions, the extract-loaded hydrogel (P3C2P) significantly inhibited bacterial growth, attenuated virulence production, and suppressed both motility and biofilm formation. These findings demonstrate a triple-action anti-infective mechanism-mediated by punicalagin, which concurrently targets virulence, motility, and biofilm formation. This work establishes a natural product-based hydrogel platform with significant translational potential for wound management and antimicrobial applications.},
}

@article {pmid42703996,
year = {2026},
author = {Sprinkel, KC and Geiger, AR and van Hoek, ML},
title = {Characterization of carABpyrB operon and role of pyrE in Francisella novicida biofilm.},
journal = {MicrobiologyOpen},
volume = {15},
number = {5},
pages = {e70355},
pmid = {42703996},
issn = {2045-8827},
mesh = {*Biofilms/growth & development ; *Pyrimidines/biosynthesis ; *Operon ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; *Francisella/genetics/physiology/growth & development/metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; *Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Biosynthetic Pathways/genetics ; Culture Media/chemistry ; DNA Transposable Elements ; },
abstract = {Pyrimidine biosynthesis is essential for bacterial growth, but its role in regulating biofilm formation in Francisella (F.) novicida remains poorly defined. In this study, we experimentally defined the carABpyrB operon in F. novicida and investigated how disruption of the de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis pathway affects growth and biofilm formation under nutrient-restricted conditions. Reverse transcriptase PCR confirmed co-transcription of carA, carB, and pyrB, and promoter prediction identified two putative σ[70]-dependent promoter regions upstream of carA. Transposon mutants disrupted in carA, carB, and pyrB exhibited pronounced growth defects in Chamberlain's Defined Medium that were restored by uracil supplementation, confirming pyrimidine auxotrophy and functional disruption of de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis. We then extended this analysis to additional genes in the pyrimidine biosynthetic pathway and assessed biofilm formation in modified Mueller-Hinton broth, a nutrient-restricted condition. In this medium, carA, carB, pyrB, and pyrE mutants exhibited growth deficiencies; however, the pyrE mutant uniquely produced significantly more biofilm than the wild type. This phenotype remained evident even without growth normalization, with the pyrE mutant producing 3.3-fold more biofilm than wild type, despite impaired growth, and increased to 11.8-fold when normalized to growth. Quantitative PCR demonstrated that uracil supplementation represses carA, carB, and pyrB transcription, consistent with feedback regulation of the pathway. Together, these findings indicate that pyrimidine limitation is not simply a growth-limiting condition but can alter biofilm regulation, with pyrE disruption revealing a strong association between de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis and biofilm formation.},
}

*Biofilms/growth & development
*Pyrimidines/biosynthesis
*Operon
Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial
*Francisella/genetics/physiology/growth & development/metabolism
Promoter Regions, Genetic
*Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism
Biosynthetic Pathways/genetics
Culture Media/chemistry
DNA Transposable Elements

@article {pmid42704703,
year = {2026},
author = {Xu, T and Chen, Z and Gao, Y and Peng, L},
title = {Er:YAG Laser Conditioning of Biofilm-Fouled Titanium Supports Osteoblast Adhesive Retention and Osteogenic Maturation: Stage-Specific Adhesion- and Osteogenesis-Related Transcriptomic Signatures.},
journal = {Lasers in surgery and medicine},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1002/lsm.70207},
pmid = {42704703},
issn = {1096-9101},
support = {82571065//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 20YYJC3660//Basic Research Project of Sichuan Provincial Department of Science and Technology/ ; },
abstract = {OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Er:YAG) laser conditioning of clinically derived supragingival biofilm-fouled sandblasted, large-grit, acid-etched (SLA) titanium reduces residual biofilm, improves apparent wettability, and supports early osteoblast adhesive retention and osteogenic maturation.

METHODS: Supragingival plaque biofilms were generated on SLA titanium discs after 48 h of intraoral splint wear and treated with an Er:YAG laser under saline irrigation. Surface morphology, roughness, wettability, and residual biofilm were assessed by scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, water contact angle measurement, live/dead fluorescence imaging, and 16S ribosomal RNA gene quantitative polymerase chain reaction. MC3T3-E1 cells were evaluated for spreading, adhesive retention, adhesion- and osteogenesis-related gene expression, alkaline phosphatase activity, and mineralized matrix deposition. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed at 4 h after cell seeding without detachment challenge and on Day 7 under osteogenic induction.

RESULTS: Er:YAG treatment preserved local SLA roughness, reduced residual biofilm burden, and improved apparent wettability. Laser conditioning enhanced early osteoblast spreading and adhesive retention, accompanied by time-dependent changes in Fn1, Col1a1, and Ptk2. 4-h RNA-seq showed limited exploratory transcriptional differences without a coordinated up-regulated focal adhesion or PI3K-Akt signature. On Day 7 under osteogenic induction, laser-treated biofilm-fouled surfaces showed higher Runx2, Alpl, and Spp1 expression and broader enrichment of extracellular matrix-receptor interaction, focal adhesion, regulation of actin cytoskeleton, Rap1/Ras, PI3K-Akt, and mTOR-related pathways. These surfaces also showed higher alkaline phosphatase activity on Day 7 and greater mineralized matrix deposition on Day 14.

CONCLUSIONS: Within this supragingival-biofilm model, Er:YAG conditioning preserved local SLA roughness, reduced residual biofilm burden, improved apparent wettability, enhanced early osteoblast adhesive retention, and supported osteogenic maturation. Integrated qRT-PCR and RNA-seq findings indicated stage-specific extracellular matrix-, focal adhesion-, cytoskeleton-, and osteogenesis-related responses, with PI3K-Akt-mTOR representing an exploratory component of the osteogenic-phase network rather than a continuous or causal mechanism.},
}

@article {pmid42705551,
year = {2026},
author = {Munoz, MA and Dos Santos, MV and Moroni, P and Latorre, AA and Gonzalez-Cordova, BA},
title = {Standardized biofilm ratio: a comparative tool for crystal-violet microtiter plate assay testing in gram-negative bacteria.},
journal = {Journal of microbiological methods},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {107701},
doi = {10.1016/j.mimet.2026.107701},
pmid = {42705551},
issn = {1872-8359},
abstract = {Currently, assessment of bacterial biofilm formation using crystal-violet microtiter plate assay presents challenges in both method consistency and underlying biological rationale. This problem has limited comparison of results among researchers and standardized practical interpretation as a virulence factor. We propose a Standardized Biofilm Ratio (SBR) calculation model protocol for in vitro biofilm evaluation in Gram-negative bacteria.},
}

@article {pmid42705607,
year = {2026},
author = {Minagawa, H and Shigemura, K and Hatayama, N and Sato, Y and Ono, T and Matsunaga, N and Yoshino, Y and Nakagawa, T},
title = {Calculous pyelonephritis caused by biofilm-forming Staphylococcus epidermidis: a case report.},
journal = {Journal of infection and chemotherapy : official journal of the Japan Society of Chemotherapy},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {103070},
doi = {10.1016/j.jiac.2026.103070},
pmid = {42705607},
issn = {1437-7780},
abstract = {Staphylococcus epidermidis rarely causes urinary tract infections (UTIs) compared to gram-negative rods; however, biofilms formed on urinary calculi or debris can persist and lead to refractory infection. Here, we report a case of S. epidermidis-induced pyelonephritis with bacteremia in a patient referred for evaluation of a mass in the left renal pelvis. The patient presented to the emergency department with fever and left flank pain and was admitted with suspected pyelonephritis. He had a history of chronic pyuria and intermittent fever suggestive of bacteremia. Blood and urine cultures yielded S. epidermidis, which had previously been detected in the urine. Although his clinical parameters initially improved after emergency ureteral stent placement and intravenous antimicrobial therapy, the infection proved intractable. Therefore, left nephroureterectomy was performed to remove the calculus, control the persistent infection, and exclude the possibility of malignancy. Scanning electron microscopy of the harvested calculus revealed a dense biofilm on and surrounding the stone. In vitro phenotypic analysis demonstrated that one of two clinical isolates from the patient exhibited a markedly stronger biofilm-forming capacity, supporting the conclusion that a biofilm-mediated process limited antimicrobial efficacy. This case underscores that although UTIs by S. epidermidis are uncommon, they can be severe and persistent due to biofilm formation on urinary calculus with mass-like lesion. When S. epidermidis is detected in both blood and urine from patients with nephrolithiasis, clinicians should suspect biofilm-associated infection, evaluate the obstructing material, and consider early source control in addition to antibiotic therapy to prevent treatment failure and improve outcomes.},
}

@article {pmid42707384,
year = {2026},
author = {Joy, MNH and Hasan, MKE and Hossan, MS and Sourov, MMH and Shahriar, S and Hasan, MF and Dutta, AK and Haque, ME},
title = {Computational structure modeling, functional characterization, and identification of potential inhibitors for the cyclic-di-GMP mediated biofilm forming membrane protein in Vibrio cholerae.},
journal = {In silico pharmacology},
volume = {14},
number = {3},
pages = {221},
pmid = {42707384},
issn = {2193-9616},
abstract = {UNLABELLED: Cholera, caused by Vibrio cholerae, continues to pose a serious global public health challenge, with its impact worsened by rising antibiotic resistance associated with bacterial biofilm formation. This study explicitly describes the role of the uncharacterised protein (UP) TYC33605.1 in cyclic-di-GMP (c-di-GMP)-mediated biofilm regulation and identifies natural computationally predicted inhibitors to disrupt this mechanism. Functional annotation revealed TYC33605.1 as a membrane-associated diguanylate cyclase (DGC) with GGDEF and sensory domains, a potential driver for c-di-GMP synthesis and biofilm persistence. Homology modelling and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations supported a plausible, stable predicted 3D structure (C-score: -1.22, Ramachandran favoured regions: 91.1%) and dynamic behaviour (average RMSD: 8.55 Å). Moreover, virtual molecular docking screening of 1,092 natural compounds identified Luteolin (CID 5280445) and Sativanone (CID 13886678) as top candidates, exhibiting strong binding affinities (- 9.1 and - 9.0 kcal/mol, respectively) and forming stable hydrogen bonds, π-cation, and hydrophobic interactions with key residues (Glu293, Arg364, Ala176). MD simulations (100 ns) were consistent with complex stability, with Luteolin and Sativanone showing lower RMSD fluctuations (7.78 and 8.13 Å) compared to the control and apoprotein. The ADME/Tox predictions indicated favourable pharmacodynamics (PD), pharmacokinetics (PK), high gastrointestinal absorption, no hepatotoxicity, and drug-likeness (Lipinski compliance). Besides, principal component, probability density function, and free energy analyses were consistent with ligand-induced conformational stability. This study proposes the molecular characterisation of the protein and the bioactive compounds Luteolin and Sativanone as promising inhibitors targeting TYC33605.1, offering a novel strategy to combat biofilm-mediated antibiotic resistance and a framework for analogous antimicrobial discovery in Vibrio cholerae.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s40203-026-00719-z.},
}

@article {pmid42708462,
year = {2026},
author = {Wan, C and Ju, X and Ma, M and Li, K and Zhu, M and Tian, Y and Xie, Z and Niu, Z},
title = {A 4-Arm polyethylene-glycol-based multivalent galactoside disrupts Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm and restores antibiotic susceptibility.},
journal = {Journal of materials chemistry. B},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1039/d6tb00885b},
pmid = {42708462},
issn = {2050-7518},
abstract = {The formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) biofilm significantly enhances bacterial resistance to antimicrobial agents and escape from the host immune system, making the treatment of related infections considerably more challenging. As a potential approach for anti-biofilm strategies, the inhibition of lectins often relies on multivalent interactions to enhance binding affinity between the inhibitor and its target. In this study, targeting the P. aeruginosa lectin LecA, we constructed a polyethylene glycol-based multivalent galactoside, termed 4-Arm-PEG-Gal, by modifying the termini of 4-Arm-PEG with galactosides specific to LecA. The results indicate that 4-Arm-PEG-Gal significantly disrupts mature biofilm and is specifically recognized by the lectin LecA. Compared to the use of antibiotics alone, the combination of 4-Arm-PEG-Gal and TOB reduces antibiotic usage by 75% and additionally eradicates 73% of the bacteria within the biofilm. Furthermore, in a model of chronic lung infection, the combination of 4-Arm-PEG-Gal and TOB cleared all bacteria from the lungs, significantly reduced the secretion of TNF-α and IL-6 in the lungs, and effectively ameliorated lung damage caused by bacterial infection.},
}

@article {pmid42708491,
year = {2026},
author = {Werner, N and Schöffel, M and Wittmer, A and Pelz, K and Vach, K and Frese, C and von Ohle, C and Wolff, D and Cieplik, F and Al-Ahmad, A},
title = {Antibiotic Resistance and Biofilm-Forming Capacity of Oral Biofilm Bacteria in Patients With Periodontitis and Healthy Individuals.},
journal = {MicrobiologyOpen},
volume = {15},
number = {5},
pages = {e70400},
doi = {10.1002/mbo3.70400},
pmid = {42708491},
issn = {2045-8827},
support = {AL 1179/5-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; CI 263/3-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; WE7745/1-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; VR-MED_FAK//Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts in Baden-Württemberg/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *Biofilms/growth & development/drug effects ; Female ; Male ; *Periodontitis/microbiology ; *Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Adult ; *Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; *Bacteria/drug effects/isolation & purification/classification ; Middle Aged ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; Young Adult ; Mouth/microbiology ; },
abstract = {This study aimed to analyse antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in bacterial isolates from subgingival biofilms of patients with periodontitis and supragingival biofilms of orally healthy individuals, and to explore the association between biofilm-forming capacity and AMR. Three hundred and forty-seven bacterial isolates from 44 patients were analysed. Bacterial isolates were obtained from subgingival/supragingival biofilm and identified using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Antibiotic susceptibility was evaluated by the Kirby-Bauer test, the E-test, and a β-lactamase activity assay, and biofilm formation capacity was assessed using the gentian violet assay. The 44 participants (median age 28.0 [25.0; 55.0]) were stratified into untreated generalised stage III/IV periodontitis (n = 21) and orally healthy (n = 23) groups. Among 347 isolates, 74.4% formed biofilms. AMR was generally higher in isolates from orally healthy subjects (77.7% vs. 59.1% in periodontitis patients, p < 0.001) and females (73.2% vs. 60.6% in males, p = 0.026). Multivariate binary logistic mixed models linked biofilm formation to AMR (OR: 1.66 CI: [1.12, 2.49]; p = 0.045 for severe biofilm formers and OR: 1.93 CI: [1.31, 2.83]; p = 0.004 for moderate biofilm formers). Phenotypic antimicrobial resistance was thus commonly detected throughout the cohort and was at least as frequent in orally healthy participants as in patients with periodontitis. Because the orally healthy group was substantially younger, this contrast is confounded by age and smoking and cannot be interpreted as an independent effect of periodontal status. Furthermore, this study might indicate that biofilm-forming isolates may exhibit increased antibiotic resistance.},
}

Humans
*Biofilms/growth & development/drug effects
Female
Male
*Periodontitis/microbiology
*Drug Resistance, Bacterial
Adult
*Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology
*Bacteria/drug effects/isolation & purification/classification
Middle Aged
Microbial Sensitivity Tests
Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
Young Adult
Mouth/microbiology

@article {pmid42708590,
year = {2026},
author = {Lim, HW and Xu, J and Koh, J and Cao, B and Tu, W},
title = {Amino acid reprogramming and biofilm-specific tricarboxylate transporters in PET-degrading Piscinibacter sakaiensis.},
journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0146526},
doi = {10.1128/aem.01465-26},
pmid = {42708590},
issn = {1098-5336},
abstract = {Plastic-degrading bacteria predominantly colonize polymer surfaces as biofilms, yet it remains unclear whether the biofilm phenotype contributes to metabolism beyond retaining extracellular enzymes. Here, we combine population-level RNA-sequencing across three conditions-biofilm cells on polyethylene terephthalate (PET), planktonic cells incubated with PET, and planktonic cells on maltose-with single-cell Raman spectroscopy to characterize the PET response of Piscinibacter sakaiensis (formerly Ideonella sakaiensis). This integrated approach reveals two metabolically distinct response layers. A carbon-source-driven response shared by all PET-exposed cells is dominated by a broad amino acid reprogramming, led by upregulation of branched-chain amino acid transport genes, enhanced serine biosynthesis, and reduced chemotaxis. A biofilm-specific layer selectively induces tripartite tricarboxylate transporter genes from three distinct genomic loci. This transcriptional feature is accompanied by a single-cell phenotype consistent with a protein-rich and saturated membrane. These results suggest that biofilm formation is not limited to enzyme retention but is associated with selective activation of transport systems, consistent with a putative role in capturing PET-derived intermediates at the polymer interface. This two-layer model separates general metabolic adaptation to PET from biofilm-specific functions and provides a framework for understanding how surface-associated bacterial physiology contributes to plastic degradation.IMPORTANCEPolyethylene terephthalate (PET) degradation in natural and engineered environments is largely mediated by surface-attached microbial communities, yet the physiological role of biofilm state during plastic degradation remains poorly understood. Using the model PET degrader Piscinibacter sakaiensis, we show that biofilm-associated cells are not simply retained near the polymer surface but exhibit a distinct metabolic program characterized by selective induction of tripartite tricarboxylate transporters. In contrast, extensive amino acid reprogramming occurs in both biofilm and planktonic PET-exposed cells, indicating that it is driven by carbon source rather than surface attachment. These findings reveal that PET degradation involves two separable physiological layers: a general metabolic response to PET-derived carbon shared across cell phenotypes, and a biofilm-specific transport response potentially linked to substrate capture at the plastic interface. This work advances our understanding of how microbial physiology is organized during plastic biodegradation and identifies transport processes as previously unrecognized components of PET-degrading biofilms.},
}

@article {pmid42709211,
year = {2026},
author = {Lin, Z and Fu, Q and Li, J and Wu, J and Wu, H and Liang, Y and Luo, Y and Yang, W and Li, H and Wang, T and Ni, G and Liu, X},
title = {Caerin 1.1/1.9 Inhibits Growth and Biofilm Formation of Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae and Induces Coordinated Transcriptomic Stress Responses.},
journal = {Current microbiology},
volume = {83},
number = {10},
pages = {},
pmid = {42709211},
issn = {1432-0991},
mesh = {*Biofilms/drug effects/growth & development ; *Klebsiella pneumoniae/drug effects/genetics/growth & development/physiology ; *Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Carbapenems/pharmacology ; *Transcriptome/drug effects ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/drug effects ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Klebsiella Infections/microbiology ; Humans ; *Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae/drug effects/genetics/growth & development ; Stress, Physiological/drug effects ; },
abstract = {Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) is a major cause of healthcare-associated infections and a World Health Organization critical-priority pathogen due to extensive antimicrobial resistance and limited treatment options. Host-defense peptides represent promising alternatives to conventional antibiotics because of their broad-spectrum activity and low propensity for resistance development. Here, we evaluated the antibacterial activity of a fixed 1:1 combination of the frog-derived peptides caerin 1.1 and caerin 1.9 (F1/F3) against a reference K. pneumoniae strain and four clinical CRKP isolates. Individually, F1 and F3 exhibited MICs of 12 µM against the reference strain, whereas the F1/F3 combination reduced the MIC to 5 µM and showed an additive antibacterial interaction. F1/F3 retained activity against clinical CRKP isolates with strain-dependent susceptibility and inhibited biofilm formation and reduced pre-established biofilm biomass in a concentration-dependent manner. Scanning electron microscopy revealed pronounced morphological and surface alterations following peptide treatment. Transcriptomic analysis demonstrated broad bacterial responses to F1/F3 exposure, including downregulation of genes associated with ribosomal function, protein synthesis, metabolism, and oxidative phosphorylation, together with activation of stress-response pathways and differential expression of predicted small regulatory RNAs. SNP analysis revealed no evidence of increased mutation burden following peptide exposure. These findings demonstrate the antibacterial potential of F1/F3 against CRKP and provide insights into bacterial responses associated with caerin peptide treatment.},
}

*Biofilms/drug effects/growth & development
*Klebsiella pneumoniae/drug effects/genetics/growth & development/physiology
*Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology
Microbial Sensitivity Tests
Carbapenems/pharmacology
*Transcriptome/drug effects
Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/drug effects
Gene Expression Profiling
Klebsiella Infections/microbiology
Humans
*Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae/drug effects/genetics/growth & development
Stress, Physiological/drug effects

@article {pmid42701081,
year = {2026},
author = {Dadeh Amirfard, K and Amarasiri, M and Sano, D},
title = {Corrigendum to "Energy allocation trade-offs among conjugative transfer, biofilm formation, and heavy metal resistance: a dynamic energy budget theory perspective" [Water Research, 291 (2026), 125216].},
journal = {Water research},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {126821},
doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2026.126821},
pmid = {42701081},
issn = {1879-2448},
}

@article {pmid42701409,
year = {2026},
author = {Ma, K and Zhang, B and Zhang, X and Yang, Y and Xu, Q and Xue, T},
title = {ArlR regulates environmental stress tolerance and biofilm formation in foodborne Staphylococcus aureus.},
journal = {Current research in food science},
volume = {13},
number = {},
pages = {101543},
pmid = {42701409},
issn = {2665-9271},
abstract = {Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a major Gram-positive pathogen capable of sensing and responding to diverse host- and environment-derived stresses, contributing to both clinical infections and foodborne illnesses. This exceptional stress tolerance is primarily mediated by intricate regulatory networks. Although the ArlRS two-component system is known to regulate autolysis, capsule synthesis, and virulence, the specific role of ArlR in environmental stress adaptation remains poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrate that deletion of arlR significantly reduces the tolerance of the foodborne strain RMSA49 to acetic acid, desiccation, whereas its responses to temperature and osmotic stress not affected. Notably, the arlR mutant also exhibits significantly enhanced biofilm formation. Transcriptomic analysis, validated by RT-qPCR, further reveals that ArlR regulates a broad set of stress- and biofilms-associated genes, highlighting its central role in coordinating environmental adaptation. These findings establish ArlR as a key regulator of environmental stress adaptation in foodborne S. aureus RMSA49 and suggest its potential as a target for controlling S. aureus.},
}

@article {pmid42701444,
year = {2026},
author = {Liu, K and Feng, L and Ouyang, L and Li, X and Shi, X and Chen, L and Hao, M},
title = {Plasmid encoded mrk gene cluster promotes biofilm formation, environmental persistence, and invasiveness in Salmonella Thompson.},
journal = {Biofilm},
volume = {12},
number = {},
pages = {100394},
pmid = {42701444},
issn = {2590-2075},
abstract = {Biofilm formation is a fundamental survival strategy that enables bacterial persistence across diverse environments and hosts. While the mrk gene cluster encoding type 3 fimbriae is a well-established determinant of biofilm formation in Klebsiella pneumoniae, its presence and functional significance in Salmonella enterica remains poorly defined. In this study, we identified a plasmid-encoded mrkABCDF gene cluster carried on a highly conjugative IncX1 plasmid in a clinical Salmonella Thompson isolate. Using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of the mrk-containing Tn6011 transposon, plasmid curing, targeted gene deletion, and genetic complementation, we systematically dissected the contribution of mrkABCDF genes to biofilm development and associated phenotypes. Loss of the mrk gene cluster resulted in a profound reduction in biofilm biomass and a concomitant increase in bacterial motility. Type 3 fimbriae were detected exclusively on the surface of mrk-positive cells, confirming their structural role in surface attachment. The mrk operon was strongly expressed from an IS1-associated promoter, bypassing canonical MrkH-dependent regulation. Functionally, mrk expression enhanced bacterial tolerance to desiccation and oxidative stresses, and reduced susceptibility to macrophage phagocytosis. In vivo, mrk-positive strains exhibited enhanced gastrointestinal colonization and tissue invasion. Notably, carbapenems exhibited exceptional efficacy in inhibiting mrk-mediated biofilm formation, indicating their superior potential for treating biofilm-associated infections. Our findings demonstrate that plasmid-encoded mrkABCDF genes can act as key architectural and functional determinants of biofilm formation in Salmonella enterica. The horizontal dissemination of mrk-carrying IncX1 plasmids may promote the emergence of biofilm-adapted Salmonella lineages with enhanced environmental persistence and host colonization potential.},
}

@article {pmid42701909,
year = {2026},
author = {Panigrahi, S and Roy, DN},
title = {Correction: Aloin of Aloe vera disrupts pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm formation: exploring nutritional therapeutics.},
journal = {Archives of microbiology},
volume = {208},
number = {12},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1007/s00203-026-05150-8},
pmid = {42701909},
issn = {1432-072X},
}

@article {pmid42702682,
year = {2026},
author = {Heidar, S and Hassan, HY and Schäfer, E and Saber, S},
title = {A preliminary antimicrobial investigation of lactobacillus bulgaricus probiotic supernatants as an intracanal medication against mature E. faecalis biofilm in an ex-vivo dentin blocks model.},
journal = {Clinical oral investigations},
volume = {30},
number = {10},
pages = {},
pmid = {42702682},
issn = {1436-3771},
mesh = {*Biofilms/drug effects ; *Enterococcus faecalis/drug effects ; *Probiotics/pharmacology ; *Dentin/microbiology ; Microscopy, Confocal ; *Lactobacillus ; *Root Canal Irrigants/pharmacology ; Calcium Hydroxide/pharmacology ; Humans ; Lactobacillus acidophilus ; *Dental Pulp Cavity/microbiology ; },
abstract = {AIM: To provide a preliminary assessment of the antimicrobial potential of Lactobacillus bulgaricus probiotic against mature Enterococcus faecalis biofilm in dentin model under ex-vivo conditions using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM).

METHODS: Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Lactobacillus acidophilus probiotic strains were grown, centrifuged, filtered by syringe filter size 0.45 microns to acquire cell free supernatants (CFS). Lyophilized CFS of each probiotic strain was individually mixed with Poloxamer gel using cold technique to prepare probiotic supernatants (PS) gel. Dentin blocks from cervical root portions were standardized at similar dimensions, infected with E. faecalis for 21 days to generate a mature biofilm. At the end of incubation, infected dentin blocks were randomly assigned to five groups (n = 10) based on the medication as follows: positive control (PC), calcium hydroxide (CH), Lactobacillus acidophilus PS gel (LA), Lactobacillus bulgaricus PS gel (LB), Lactobacillus combination PS gel (LC) combining LA and LB at a 1:1 ratio. All dentin blocks were medicated and incubated for 7 days under anaerobic conditions. Then, dentin blocks were examined with CLSM at 40X magnification; three-dimensional imaging in Z-stack mode was processed, and the dead E. faecalis% was quantitatively assessed using bioImage_L v21 software and total biovolume was calculated. Dead E. faecalis% were compared across groups using a one-way ANOVA test followed by Tukey's post hoc test. Biovolume data were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test followed by Dunn's post hoc test with p-value adjustment using Holm's method. The significance level was set at p < 0.05 for all tests. Statistical analysis was performed using R version 4.6.0 for Windows.

RESULTS: LB was linked to the highest percentage of dead E. faecalis% (p < 0.05), followed by LC, LA, CH, and the PC. Significant differences in dead E. faecalis% were observed between all groups (p < 0.05) except for CH and the PC groups. There was no significant difference in total biovolume among all groups.

CONCLUSION: The Initial assessment of LB showed a promising antimicrobial action in dentin model that exceeded LA and CH. As biofilm biovolume was unaffected, LB appears to reduce bacterial viability rather than remove biofilm mass, warranting further validation in polymicrobial and intact canal models.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Probiotics may be of clinical relevance due to their antimicrobial action against E. faecalis.},
}

*Biofilms/drug effects
*Enterococcus faecalis/drug effects
*Probiotics/pharmacology
*Dentin/microbiology
Microscopy, Confocal
*Lactobacillus
*Root Canal Irrigants/pharmacology
Calcium Hydroxide/pharmacology
Humans
Lactobacillus acidophilus
*Dental Pulp Cavity/microbiology

@article {pmid42702805,
year = {2026},
author = {Liu, Z and Wan, B and Yao, S and Guo, M and Ding, T and Feng, J and Liu, D and Xu, E},
title = {Nanostarch-Functionalized PDMS Membranes Inhibit Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilm via Topographical Interference and Metabolic Perturbation.},
journal = {Advanced healthcare materials},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e71704},
doi = {10.1002/adhm.71704},
pmid = {42702805},
issn = {2192-2659},
support = {32272464//Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
abstract = {Bacterial biofilms pose persistent public health challenges, and although surface modification is a promising anti-biofilm strategy, environmentally friendly approaches remain limited. Here, we report a nanostarch-functionalized polydimethylsiloxane (NS-PDMS) membrane with potent anti-biofilm efficacy arising from physical topographical interference coupled with metabolism-associated adaptation in surface-attached bacteria. Corn-derived starch nanoparticles (∼200 nm), produced via tunable antisolvent precipitation, were thermally deposited onto PDMS, forming an interwoven porous topography that physically impedes Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 adhesion. This microporous architecture enhances surface hydrophilicity and adsorption of extracellular metabolites. Transcriptomic analysis revealed pronounced metabolic disruption in surface-attached cells, particularly in denitrification, leading to impaired proton motive force generation and ATP production. In a CAUTI model, NS-PDMS resisted P. aeruginosa colonization and alleviated bladder inflammation. Biofilms on NS-PDMS showed enhanced chlorine susceptibility, achieving ∼96% viability reduction. This work presents a sustainable nanostarch-based anti-biofilm strategy with broad healthcare and food-processing potential.},
}

@article {pmid42702835,
year = {2026},
author = {Wang, R and Song, Y and Zeng, J and Ma, Q and Zhou, L and Du, S and Wang, M and Hao, L and Jiang, R and Qi, X},
title = {Self-Reinforced DNase-Based Nanosystem With Accelerated Biofilm Disruption and Boosted Antibiotic Delivery for Bacterial Keratitis Therapy.},
journal = {Advanced healthcare materials},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e71691},
doi = {10.1002/adhm.71691},
pmid = {42702835},
issn = {2192-2659},
support = {52305317//National Science Foundation of China/ ; tsqn202408379//research collaboration project between Taishan Scholars Program of Shandong Province/ ; 202307021470//Shandong Province Medical Health Science and Technology Project/ ; W2412095//National Natural Science Foundation of China and the National Research Foundation of Korea/ ; ZR20230B113//Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province/ ; 2024KJH045//Youth Innovation Team of Shandong Province/ ; },
abstract = {Biofilm-associated infections remain refractory to antibiotics due to the extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) barrier limiting drug penetration and promoting drug resistance genes transfer. Deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I)-based strategies designed to degrade the EPS scaffold paradoxically fail within the biofilm microenvironment, where oxidative stress rapidly deactivates the enzyme and its cleavage efficiency remains intrinsically low. Here, we developed a self-reinforced nanosystem (D-HIC) by integrating MnO2 (HMnO2) with DNase I and co-loading indocyanine green and ciprofloxacin, simultaneously addressing the intrinsic limitations of enzyme-based therapies. Crucially, HMnO2 catalyzed the excess ROS to protect DNase I from oxidative degradation, and this catalytic process is accompanied by the generation of Mn[2+] which was found to significantly accelerate DNase I-mediated EPS cleavage by nearly fourfold to achieve rapid biofilm skeleton disruption. This potentiation created rapid penetration channels, enabling deep delivery of loadings for near-infrared-triggered complete biofilm elimination and remarkable bacterial killing rate (>99%) at reduced antibiotic doses. In a murine bacterial keratitis model, this strategy achieved superior therapeutic outcomes compared to clinical eye drops. By coupling oxidative stress relief with catalytic cofactor generation from a single material platform, this work establishes a versatile strategy that overcomes the fundamental limitations of traditional enzyme-based antibiofilm approaches.},
}

@article {pmid42703023,
year = {2026},
author = {Perez-Muelas, E and Ruiz-Fresneda, MA and Lazuen-Lopez, G and Lopez-Perez, T and Eddaoudi-Lakraichi, F and Bakkali, M and Merroun, ML},
title = {Genomic Insights Into the Multimetal Resilience and Biofilm-Templated Nanorod Biosynthesis of Stenotrophomonas bentonitica BII-R7: Bioremediation and Green Nanotechnology Implications.},
journal = {Microbial biotechnology},
volume = {19},
number = {9},
pages = {e70422},
doi = {10.1111/1751-7915.70422},
pmid = {42703023},
issn = {1751-7915},
support = {101079345//HORIZON EUROPE Framework Programme/ ; TED2021-131099B-I00//Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades/ ; },
mesh = {*Stenotrophomonas/genetics/metabolism/physiology ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Genome, Bacterial ; *Biofilms/growth & development ; *Nanotubes/chemistry ; Genomics ; Nanotechnology ; Selenium/metabolism ; Metals/metabolism ; },
abstract = {While microbial metal reduction is widely documented, the genomic determinants that govern the morphological transition from disordered phases to structured nanocrystals remain elusive. Here, we present an integrative study of Stenotrophomonas bentonitica BII-R7, a strain exhibiting exceptional metal resistance and the unique capacity to synthesize crystalline trigonal selenium (t-Se) nanorods. Comparative pangenomic analysis of 38 Stenotrophomonas strains revealed that BII-R7 possesses a notably large accessory genome of 2311 exclusive singletons. We identify a specialized genomic toolkit, absent in all related strains, comprising key metal resistance determinants (e.g., copB, copF, and czcA) alongside extracellular remodelling enzymes (Wzyligase and GH92-glycosyl hydrolase). This unique repertoire confers BII-R7 with significantly higher Cu and Ni tolerance compared to related Stenotrophomonas species, which we hypothesize is fundamental for maintaining metabolic activity in polymetallic environments. RT-qPCR and functional assays confirm that these singletons are not only upregulated under metal stress (e.g., czcA: 42.2-fold) but are also consistent with a critical role in maintaining biofilm resilience. Crucially, we propose a mechanistic model where this unique genetic repertoire governs the assembly of a compositionally distinctive Extracellular Polymeric Substance (EPS). Using a three-state (biofilm, planktonic, EPS-depleted) experiment, we provide direct phenotypic evidence that an intact EPS matrix is required for the efficient transition from amorphous nanospheres to highly ordered crystalline nanorods, and we propose that it acts as a molecular template directing the anisotropic growth of selenium. By bridging genomics and bionanotechnology, this work positions BII-R7 as a promising candidate for sustainable green synthesis and bioremediation, while defining the targeted gene-knockout and complementation experiments now required to establish direct causal roles for the candidate determinants.},
}

*Stenotrophomonas/genetics/metabolism/physiology
Biodegradation, Environmental
Genome, Bacterial
*Biofilms/growth & development
*Nanotubes/chemistry
Genomics
Nanotechnology
Selenium/metabolism
Metals/metabolism

@article {pmid42703722,
year = {2026},
author = {Tegegne, DT and Jajor, P and Bania, J and Migdał, P and Dziedzic, R and Poźniak, B},
title = {Assessment of Enterococcus faecalis biofilm response to amoxicillin and ciprofloxacin using a dynamic in vitro pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic model of catheter-associated urinary tract infection.},
journal = {The Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy},
volume = {81},
number = {10},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jac/dkag311},
pmid = {42703722},
issn = {1460-2091},
support = {N070/0011/24//Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences/ ; },
mesh = {*Biofilms/drug effects/growth & development ; *Ciprofloxacin/pharmacology/pharmacokinetics ; *Enterococcus faecalis/drug effects/physiology ; *Amoxicillin/pharmacology/pharmacokinetics ; *Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology/pharmacokinetics ; *Urinary Tract Infections/microbiology/drug therapy ; Humans ; *Catheter-Related Infections/microbiology/drug therapy ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Bacterial Load ; Microbial Viability/drug effects ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are among the most common types of healthcare-associated infections. Among uropathogens, Enterococcus faecalis is particularly notable for its strong capacity to form biofilms on urinary catheters, thereby decreasing its susceptibility to antibiotics commonly used to treat CAUTIs. However, current antibiotic dosing strategies still rely on planktonic phenotypes, limiting their applicability to biofilm-associated infections. To address this limitation, a dynamic in vitro pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic model was developed to assess E. faecalis biofilms' response to different treatment regimens.

METHODS: Biofilms of model E. faecalis strains (ATCC 29212 and 54) were preformed on urinary catheters. Mature biofilms were subjected to simulated urinary dosing regimens of amoxicillin (500 mg q12h for 3 days) or ciprofloxacin (500 mg q24h for 3 days), as well as to constant antibiotic concentrations for 3 days. Viable bacterial counts and biofilm biomass were then measured at predefined timepoints, and the effects of the simulated dosing regimens were compared to those observed under constant antibiotic exposure.

RESULTS: Our findings indicate that daily ciprofloxacin demonstrated the greatest antibacterial activity, significantly surpassing the effects of constant ciprofloxacin exposure, twice-daily dosing of amoxicillin, and constant amoxicillin exposure. Although the simulated amoxicillin regimen was more effective than constant amoxicillin exposure, both achieved only moderate reductions. Notably, constant amoxicillin exposure induced biofilm formation. Ciprofloxacin exhibited markedly greater antibiofilm activity than amoxicillin against both E. faecalis strains. Among the evaluated regimens, CIP 500 mg q24h produced the most pronounced reduction in biofilm bacterial burden, achieving decreases exceeding 3 log10 cfu/cm2 in both strains after 72 h of exposure.

CONCLUSIONS: The findings show that antibiotic efficacy against E. faecalis biofilms depends on the antibiotic and its dosing regimen, with fluctuating ciprofloxacin exposure producing the strongest bactericidal effect and biofilm reduction.},
}

*Biofilms/drug effects/growth & development
*Ciprofloxacin/pharmacology/pharmacokinetics
*Enterococcus faecalis/drug effects/physiology
*Amoxicillin/pharmacology/pharmacokinetics
*Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology/pharmacokinetics
*Urinary Tract Infections/microbiology/drug therapy
Humans
*Catheter-Related Infections/microbiology/drug therapy
Microbial Sensitivity Tests
Bacterial Load
Microbial Viability/drug effects

@article {pmid42698529,
year = {2026},
author = {Antunes, JT and Gomes, IB and Proia, L},
title = {Editorial: Biofilms in aquatic environments and new strategies for microbial biofilm control.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {17},
number = {},
pages = {1960548},
pmid = {42698529},
issn = {1664-302X},
}

@article {pmid42700653,
year = {2026},
author = {Chen, H and Chen, C and Xia, A and Kumar, V and Zhang, J and Huang, Y and Zhu, X and Zhu, X and Liao, Q},
title = {Acidic-site-mediated interfacial interactions promote methanogen adhesion and biofilm formation on conductive carriers for anaerobic digestion.},
journal = {Colloids and surfaces. B, Biointerfaces},
volume = {269},
number = {},
pages = {116122},
doi = {10.1016/j.colsurfb.2026.116122},
pmid = {42700653},
issn = {1873-4367},
abstract = {The application of conductive substrates in anaerobic digestion has garnered growing interest due to their potential to enhance wastewater treatment performance. However, the initial attachment mechanisms governing distinct colonization across substrates remain unclear. In this study, the most commonly used conductive materials from previous research (biochar, activated carbon, magnetite, and graphite) were employed to investigate the adhesion and biofilm formation characteristics of a typical electron acceptor, Methanosarcina barkeri. Results indicate that adsorption is governed primarily by Lewis acid-base interactions between acidic functional groups on the activated carbon surface and methanochondroitin in the cellular outer layer. During early colonization, cell attachment to activated carbon was 2.3, 3.3 and 6.3 times higher than biochar, magnetite and graphite, respectively. This mechanism was corroborated by substrate modification experiments demonstrating that removing surface acidic functional groups reduced attachment capacity by 57.6%, whereas enriching carboxyl groups increased it by 116.8%. Theoretical calculations revealed that this enhancement arises from an attractive interaction energy of approximately -15 kcal/mol between methanochondroitin and carboxyl groups. Consequently, this advantage in early colonization promoted the preferential formation of a structurally mature, extracellular polymeric substances-rich biofilm on the activated carbon surface, ensuring mechanical stability under fluid shear stress and providing substantial material support for efficient electron transfer and storage. This study provides a predictive framework for substrate selection, in which tailoring surface functional-group density to match specific microbial biochemical motifs enables the development of high-performance systems, shifting the field from empirical trial and error to rational design.},
}

@article {pmid42700947,
year = {2026},
author = {Francese, MM and Kim, RR and Bicalho, JP and Barros, HZ and Vertuan, M and Magalhães, AC},
title = {Effect of a toothpaste containing titanium tetrafluoride and chitosan on enamel and dentin demineralization in an in vitro microcosm biofilm model.},
journal = {Journal of dentistry},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {107029},
doi = {10.1016/j.jdent.2026.107029},
pmid = {42700947},
issn = {1879-176X},
abstract = {OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the anticariogenic effect and antibacterial activity of a titanium tetrafluoride (TiF4)/chitosan (Ch) toothpaste on enamel and dentin demineralization in an in vitro microcosm biofilm model.

METHODS: Microcosm biofilm was produced from human saliva mixed with McBain saliva (0.2% sucrose) on bovine enamel and dentin for three days (5% CO2, 37°C). The treatments were applied as slurry (1 × 60 s/day): 1) TiF4/Ch (1400 ppm F⁻, 0.5% chitosan, 75% deacetylation, 500 mPas, pH 4.5); 2) TiF4 (1400 ppm F[-], pH 4.5); 3) Ch (0.5% chitosan, 75% deacetylation, 500 mPas, pH 4.5); 4) Elmex® Caries Protection (GABA, Switzerland, 1450 ppm F[-] as AmF, pH 4.5, positive control); 5) placebo (pH 7.0, negative control); and 6) phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, pH 7.2). Colony-forming units (CFU) count was performed for total microorganisms, Lactobacillus spp., and Streptococcus mutans/S. sobrinus. Demineralization was measured by transverse microradiography (TMR). Data were compared using Kruskal-Wallis/Dunn test (p < 0.05).

RESULTS: In enamel biofilm, TiF4/Ch significantly reduced Streptococcus mutans/S. sobrinus compared to placebo, whereas in dentin biofilm, this effect was observed only for TiF4 alone compared to both placebo and PBS. In enamel, TiF₄/Ch showed the lowest values of the integrated mineral loss (ΔZ) and lesion depth (LD), differing from Chitosan, Placebo and PBS groups. In dentin, similar performance was found for TiF4 and Elmex® on ΔZ, but not on LD (Elmex® was similar to placebo). No performance difference was observed between TiF4 and TiF4/Ch under this model.

CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, toothpastes containing TiF4 were able to reduce enamel and dentin demineralization in an in vitro microcosm biofilm model.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: TiF₄/Ch toothpaste reduced enamel and dentin demineralization under the present in vitro model, supporting its anticaries potential.},
}

@article {pmid42694949,
year = {2026},
author = {Shalipour, A and Kiaheyrati, N and Ali Hossien, H and Fardsanei, F and Bahari, M and Nikkhahi, F},
title = {From Phenotype to Genotype: A Clonal Perspective on Virulence and Biofilm Formation in Bloodstream-Derived Escherichia coli.},
journal = {Infection and drug resistance},
volume = {19},
number = {},
pages = {627946},
pmid = {42694949},
issn = {1178-6973},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Bloodstream infections, BSIs caused by Escherichia coli are a major healthcare concern due to the increasing emergence of multidrug-resistant and virulent strains. This study aimed to investigate the phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of bloodstream-derived E. coli isolates, with a focus on antimicrobial resistance, biofilm formation, virulence-associated genes, phylogenetic distribution, and clonal diversity.

METHODS: A total of 150 blood culture samples were collected from patients with suspected BSIs, of which 60 (40%) E. coli isolates were recovered and confirmed using conventional microbiological methods. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed according to the CLSI2026 guidelines, whereas biofilm formation was assessed using a microtiter plate assay. Virulence genes, phylogenetic groups, and clonal relationships were evaluated using polymerase chain reaction-based, PCR methods.

RESULTS: High susceptibility rates were observed for colistin (96.7%) and meropenem (93.3%), whereas the highest rates of resistance were detected against ciprofloxacin (93.3%) and co-trimoxazole (61.7%). Multidrug resistance, MDR was detected in 41.7% of the isolates, while 31.7% were phenotypically characterized as Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase, ESBL producers. Biofilm analysis revealed that 75% of the isolates were capable of biofilm formation. Among the investigated virulence genes, fimH (88.3%), ompT (73.3%), and irp2 (58.3%) were most prevalent. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a predominance of groups B2 (26.7%), B1 (23.3%), and D (23.3%). The ERIC-PCR analysis classified the isolates into 26 distinct ERIC types, indicating substantial genetic diversity.

CONCLUSION: The coexistence of virulence-associated genes, biofilm-forming ability, antimicrobial resistance, and genetic diversity among bloodstream-derived E. coli isolates highlights the circulation of potentially high-risk lineages in healthcare environments. These observations underscore the necessity for ongoing molecular epidemiological monitoring and the implementation of effective infection control strategies.},
}

@article {pmid42695726,
year = {2026},
author = {Jeremia, L and Bezold, EL and Wuest, WM},
title = {Total Synthesis and Biofilm Inhibitory Studies of Knightine Cembranoid Diterpenes.},
journal = {The Journal of organic chemistry},
volume = {91},
number = {35},
pages = {12120-12125},
doi = {10.1021/acs.joc.6c01571},
pmid = {42695726},
issn = {1520-6904},
support = {GM119426/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; TL1 DK136047/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; NA//Achievement Rewards for College Scientists Foundation/ ; NA//Roche Diagnostics/ ; },
mesh = {*Diterpenes/pharmacology/chemical synthesis/chemistry ; *Biofilms/drug effects ; *Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects/physiology ; *Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology/chemical synthesis/chemistry ; Animals ; Molecular Structure ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; },
abstract = {We report the first total synthesis of the cembranoid diterpenes knightol, knightal, and knightol acetate isolated from the Caribbean Sea Whip, Eunicea knighti. Highlights of the synthesis include leveraging farnesol as a feedstock starting material, a late-stage Shi epoxidation, and a penultimate Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons macrocyclization. Biological studies reveal modest biofilm inhibitory activity against Staphylococcus aureus for the most active member, (-)-knightol.},
}

*Diterpenes/pharmacology/chemical synthesis/chemistry
*Biofilms/drug effects
*Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects/physiology
*Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology/chemical synthesis/chemistry
Animals
Molecular Structure
Microbial Sensitivity Tests

@article {pmid42695887,
year = {2026},
author = {Wang, HH and Ju, Y and Liu, Y and Jiang, M and Yao, H and Zhao, S and Cui, G and Yin, TP and Wang, Z and Du, GF and Yang, XY},
title = {Targeting Arginine Metabolism via ArcR: Blestriarene B Suppresses Staphylococcus aureus Biofilm Formation and Cellular ATP Production.},
journal = {Journal of proteome research},
volume = {25},
number = {9},
pages = {4757-4771},
doi = {10.1021/acs.jproteome.6c00236},
pmid = {42695887},
issn = {1535-3907},
support = {QKH-MS[2025]344//Natural Science Foundation of Guizhou Province/ ; 18zy-005//Zunyi Medical University/ ; 2024KCXTD005//Innovation Team Project for Universities in Guangdong Province/ ; 32360117//The National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; KC25104//Xuzhou Sustainable Development Social Public Welfare Research Grant on Health and Wellness/ ; ZHGY2024-1//Zunyi Medical University/ ; ZHTD2024-2//Zunyi Medical University/ ; },
mesh = {*Biofilms/drug effects/growth & development ; *Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects/metabolism/physiology/genetics ; *Arginine/metabolism ; *Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; *Bacterial Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; *Adenosine Triphosphate/biosynthesis/metabolism ; Animals ; *Repressor Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/drug effects ; Staphylococcal Infections/drug therapy/microbiology ; },
abstract = {Blestriarene B (BB), a biphenanthrene compound isolated from the medicinal plant Bletilla striata, possesses antibacterial properties against Staphylococcus aureus; however, its molecular target and underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Arginine metabolism plays a pivotal role in antibiotic susceptibility and biofilm development, making this pathway an attractive therapeutic target. Here, we demonstrate that blestriarene B exerts potent antibacterial activity against S. aureus both in vitro and in vivo. Data-independent acquisition (DIA) proteomics analysis suggests that the antibacterial mechanism of blestriarene B involves an interaction with the HTH-type transcriptional regulator ArcR, which is a key regulator of arginine catabolism. Comparative analyses between wild-type and arcR-deficient S. aureus strains confirmed that ArcR is the molecular target of blestriarene B. Further mechanistic studies revealed that blestriarene B inhibits biofilm formation, impairs cellular ATP production, and ultimately induces bacterial death by binding to ArcR. Collectively, these findings identify blestriarene B as a promising antibacterial drug and validate ArcR as a novel target for anti-S. aureus therapeutics.},
}

*Biofilms/drug effects/growth & development
*Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects/metabolism/physiology/genetics
*Arginine/metabolism
*Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology
*Bacterial Proteins/metabolism/genetics
*Adenosine Triphosphate/biosynthesis/metabolism
Animals
*Repressor Proteins/metabolism/genetics
Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/drug effects
Staphylococcal Infections/drug therapy/microbiology

@article {pmid42696471,
year = {2026},
author = {Pinder, H and Rudkin, JK and Quail, NPA and Wall, DM and Young, P and Rooney, LM},
title = {Convergent methodologies in prosthetic joint infection research: integrating transdisciplinary approaches to understand and prevent biofilm-driven failure of orthopaedic prostheses.},
journal = {Journal of medical microbiology},
volume = {75},
number = {9},
pages = {},
pmid = {42696471},
issn = {1473-5644},
mesh = {*Prosthesis-Related Infections/microbiology/prevention & control ; *Biofilms/growth & development ; Humans ; *Joint Prosthesis/microbiology ; Prosthesis Failure ; },
abstract = {Prosthetic joint infections (PJIs) remain among the most devastating complications of arthroplasty, imposing substantial clinical, economic and patient burdens. Although culture-based diagnostics underpin current clinical practice, PJIs are biofilm-driven infections shaped by taxonomic diversity, spatial organization, host responses and surface interactions, meaning conventional approaches provide only a partial and often decontextualized view of the infection process. We examine how convergent methodologies can transform PJI research by integrating approaches that have traditionally been studied in isolation, including sequencing, transcriptomics, metabolomics, advanced imaging and culture-based characterization. We discuss how whole-genome sequencing, shotgun metagenomics, transcriptomic and metabolomic approaches resolve pathogen identity, functional activity and adaptive persistence and how cross-scale imaging and spatial biology techniques reveal where microbes colonize, interact and survive across implant surfaces. We highlight emerging opportunities to unify these datasets into coherent frameworks that capture both the molecular and physical dimensions of PJIs. Integrating these complementary approaches will enable a multi-layered understanding of PJIs that link composition, function and spatial organization. Ultimately, this provides a foundation for predictive diagnostics, precision antimicrobial strategies and improved implant design and supports a shift towards more effective, mechanism-informed management of implant-associated infection.},
}

*Prosthesis-Related Infections/microbiology/prevention & control
*Biofilms/growth & development
Humans
*Joint Prosthesis/microbiology
Prosthesis Failure

@article {pmid42688403,
year = {2026},
author = {Idrees, A and Abbas, IS and Li, J and Hussein, M and Velkov, T},
title = {Zanthoxylum beecheyanum enhances vancomycin activity and inhibits biofilm formation in resistant staphylococcus aureus.},
journal = {Frontiers in pharmacology},
volume = {17},
number = {},
pages = {1919407},
pmid = {42688403},
issn = {1663-9812},
abstract = {The increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus continues to compromise the effectiveness of conventional antimicrobial therapy and highlights the need for novel adjunctive treatment strategies. Despite the traditional medicinal use of Zanthoxylum species, the antibacterial potential of Zanthoxylum beecheyanum remains largely unexplored. Here, we characterized the chemical composition of Zanthoxylum beecheyanum essential oil (ZBEO) and evaluated its antibacterial activity against a panel of clinically relevant S. aureus strains, its ability to potentiate vancomycin activity, and its effects on biofilm formation. GC-MS profiling identified D-limonene and methyl cinnamate as the predominant volatile metabolites. ZBEO exhibited antibacterial activity against all tested strains, with MIC values ranging from 8 to 128 mg/L. Checkerboard assays demonstrated synergistic effects between ZBEO and vancomycin, with fractional inhibitory concentration index values as low as 0.375. Time-kill assays showed that ZBEO exhibited antibacterial activity as monotherapy and, in combination, enhanced bacterial killing and reduced bacterial regrowth compared with vancomycin alone. In addition, ZBEO inhibited biofilm formation in a concentration-dependent manner, with the greatest activity observed during combination treatment with vancomycin. Preliminary safety assessment demonstrated low hemolytic activity and limited cytotoxicity toward HEK-293 cells (CC50 > 128 mg/L) within the antibacterial concentration range. These findings identify ZBEO as a promising adjunct to vancomycin for enhancing antibacterial activity and inhibiting S. aureus biofilm formation, warranting further investigation as a plant derived adjunctive therapy for difficult-to-treat staphylococcal infections.},
}

@article {pmid42690706,
year = {2026},
author = {Garcia-Bonillo, C and López-Lisbona, R and Díez-Ferrer, M and Marti, S and Gilabert, J and Cubero, N and Santos, S and Borrós, S and Rosell, A and Texidó, R},
title = {Nanostructured Silver-Coated Silicone Tracheal Stents Confer Hybrid Anti-Biofilm Activity In Vivo.},
journal = {ACS applied bio materials},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1021/acsabm.6c00591},
pmid = {42690706},
issn = {2576-6422},
support = {RTC-2017-6668-1//Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades/ ; },
abstract = {Bacterial colonization and biofilm formation remain major limitations of airway stenting, contributing to device obstruction and infection-related complications. Here, we translated to silicone tracheal stents a previously developed plasma-assisted micro/nanostructured silver interface designed to provide hybrid anti-biofilm activity through reduced bacterial adhesion and controlled silver release. The coated stents were characterized to confirm the generation of the nanostructured silver coating and were evaluated against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria in vitro, followed by in vivo assessment in a miniature pig airway model. In vitro, the coating reproduced the dual bacteriophobic and silver-mediated antimicrobial behavior previously observed on model silicone surfaces. In vivo, animals implanted with silver-coated stents showed lower endpoint bacterial loads in bronchial washes than those receiving commercial stents (1.0 × 108 vs 1.2 × 109 CFU/mL, p =0.0085). Bacterial adhesion on explanted stents was also markedly lower for coated devices (109 vs 1011 CFU /cm2, 99.8% reduction, p < 0.0001), and scanning electron microscopy showed a thinner and less mature biofilm structure. Potentially pathogenic bacteria, including Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, were more frequently detected on commercial stents, whereas coated stents were mainly associated with the native respiratory microbiota. Overall, these results indicate that nanostructured silver-coated silicone tracheal stents display hybrid anti-biofilm functionality in a challenging in vivo airway setting.},
}

@article {pmid42690754,
year = {2026},
author = {Koirala, M and Shi, Y and Carter, MQ and Fagerquist, CK},
title = {Computational Simulations of Biofilm-Associated Proteins Generated by Pathogenic Escherichia coli Identified by MALDI-TOF-TOF Mass Spectrometry and Top-Down Protein Analysis.},
journal = {Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry},
volume = {37},
number = {9},
pages = {2155-2167},
doi = {10.1021/jasms.6c00188},
pmid = {42690754},
issn = {1879-1123},
support = {DE-SC0014664//U.S. Department of Energy/ ; 0500-00093-001-00-D//Agricultural Research Service/ ; 2030-42000-055-000-D//Agricultural Research Service/ ; },
mesh = {*Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization/methods ; *Escherichia coli Proteins/chemistry/analysis/metabolism ; *Escherichia coli/chemistry/physiology ; Molecular Dynamics Simulation ; *Biofilms ; Protein Conformation ; },
abstract = {Five proteins extracted from bacterial biofilms of a pathogenic Escherichia coli strain were identified by MALDI-TOF-TOF mass spectrometry and top-down protein analysis. They are cold-shock proteins CspC and CspE, DNA-binding proteins HU-α and HU-β and CsgA (the major subunit of curli). The fragmentation efficiency of these singly charged protein ions varied considerably. The pattern of fragment ions obtained from tandem mass spectrometry postsource decay of these protein ions was compared to in silico protein structures obtained using AlphaFold3 to better understand the factors that contribute to their gas phase dissociation as well as their likelihood of unfolding during MALDI sample preparation. Molecular dynamic simulations were performed to calculate the root-mean-square fluctuations (RMSF) of Cα atoms and root-mean-square deviation (RMSD) of the protein backbone to assess their propensity to unfold/denature during MALDI sample preparation. A molecular dynamics simulation was performed on a curli multimer composed of one CsgB (the minor curli subunit) and five CsgA which showed rapid disintegration of this short curli complex in hexafluoro-isopropanol (HFIP) consistent with experimental observations. Strong hydrogen bonding of HFIP appears to disrupt the intermolecular hydrogen bonds of this amyloid protein complex but does not unfold CsgA monomer because of 138 intramolecular hydrogen bonds present in its solenoidal β-sheet structure. Finally, electrostatic analysis of the curli complex reveals partitioned regions of positive and negative charge along the fibril axis that may facilitate its assembly.},
}

*Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization/methods
*Escherichia coli Proteins/chemistry/analysis/metabolism
*Escherichia coli/chemistry/physiology
Molecular Dynamics Simulation
*Biofilms
Protein Conformation

@article {pmid42692596,
year = {2026},
author = {Xiang, Y and Wang, E and Mo, X and Wei, Z and Xu, Z and Li, W and Lin, C and Zhang, Y and Ma, C and Zheng, B and Li, Z and Liu, C and Deng, R and Xu, T and Liang, Z and He, Y and He, J},
title = {Illicium verum polysaccharide targets fimbriae and flagella to disrupt biofilm and inhibit multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli proliferation.},
journal = {Carbohydrate polymers},
volume = {390},
number = {},
pages = {125711},
doi = {10.1016/j.carbpol.2026.125711},
pmid = {42692596},
issn = {1879-1344},
mesh = {*Biofilms/drug effects ; *Escherichia coli/drug effects/physiology ; *Polysaccharides/pharmacology/chemistry/isolation & purification ; *Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial/drug effects ; *Flagella/drug effects ; *Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology/chemistry/isolation & purification ; *Fimbriae, Bacterial/drug effects ; },
abstract = {The widespread dissemination of multidrug-resistant (MDR) E. coli has led to a decrease in the efficacy of antibiotics, posing severe challenges to clinical anti-infective therapy. Owing to their safety, multitarget activities, and low risk of inducing drug resistance, plant polysaccharides represent a promising alternative strategy. In this study, an acidic polysaccharide (IVP-3) was isolated and purified from the medicinal and edible plant Illicium verum, and it was found to inhibit MDR E. coli colonization by disrupting its biofilm. The Mw of IVP-3 was determined to be 35.566 kDa. Its backbone consists of →4)-α-D-GalpA-6-OMe-(1→, →4)-α-D-GalpA-(1→, →4)-β-D-Galp-(1→, and →3,4)-α-D-GalpA-(1 → residues, whereas the branched chain is composed of α-L-Araf-(1 → 5)-α-L-Araf-(1 → attached to the O-5 position of →2,5)-α-L-Araf-(1→, which is further linked to the O-3 position of the backbone. Mechanistically, IVP-3 disrupts the structure of fimbriae and flagella, inhibits bacterial motility, effectively prevents initial biofilm adhesion, and eradicates preformed mature biofilms. Additionally, IVP-3 damages cell membrane integrity, disrupts the proton motive force, and induces energy metabolism disorder, efflux pump inhibition, and oxidative stress, ultimately leading to bacterial lysis. This study provides a theoretical basis for the development of natural antibacterial agents targeting MDR E. coli biofilms and for the high-value utilization of Illicium verum.},
}

*Biofilms/drug effects
*Escherichia coli/drug effects/physiology
*Polysaccharides/pharmacology/chemistry/isolation & purification
*Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial/drug effects
*Flagella/drug effects
*Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology/chemistry/isolation & purification
*Fimbriae, Bacterial/drug effects

@article {pmid42694036,
year = {2026},
author = {Molnár, A and Vaz, AG and Homa, M and Tyagi, C and Bodai, L and Nagy, G and Zsindely, N and Németh, D and Sinka, R and Kedves, A and Rónavári, A and Kónya, Z and Janovák, L and Rafael, B and Szegedi, BF and Kiss, K and Khaliefeh, T and Voigt, K and Nagy, G and Szebenyi, C and Papp, T},
title = {Three hydrophobic surface binding a proteins link surface hydrophobicity to sporulation, biofilm formation, and host interaction in Mucor lusitanicus.},
journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1904531},
pmid = {42694036},
issn = {2235-2988},
mesh = {Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions ; *Biofilms/growth & development ; *Mucor/physiology/genetics/growth & development/pathogenicity/metabolism ; *Fungal Proteins/metabolism/genetics/chemistry ; *Spores, Fungal/growth & development ; Virulence ; Mucormycosis/microbiology ; Animals ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Protein Binding ; },
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Mucor lusitanicus is a model organism for studying fungal development and physiology, as well as pathogenicity of Mucorales fungi. Hydrophobic surface-binding proteins (HsbA family) have been described in filamentous fungi as interface-associated factors involved in adhesion, enzymatic recruitment, and surface interactions; however, their functional diversification in Mucorales remains poorly understood.

METHODS: Here, we present a comprehensive characterization of three HsbA proteins in M. lusitanicus.

RESULTS: All examined HsbA proteins share a conserved α-helical fold with a hydrophobic core and are capable of binding fatty acids, while displaying differential affinity for hydrophobic interfaces.

DISCUSSION: These structural properties translate into distinct surface-associated functions, including modulation of surface hydrophobicity, biofilm formation, and sporangial architecture. Genetic analyses further demonstrate that HsbA proteins play a central role in developmental regulation, affecting spore germination timing, stress responses, sporulation, and spore hydrophobicity. At the host interaction level, HsbA overexpression increases early phagocytic uptake but impairs infection progression, whereas gene disruption enhances virulence in in vivo insect models. These findings support a model in which HsbA proteins primarily regulate developmental timing rather than acting as classical virulence determinants. Collectively, our results show that HsbA proteins in M. lusitanicus function as regulators that couple fungal surface remodeling with developmental transitions. Unlike previously characterized fungal surface systems that mainly mediate adhesion, immune evasion, or enzymatic recruitment, Mucor HsbA proteins integrate surface properties with growth timing, thereby coordinating environmental adaptation and host-pathogen interactions.},
}

Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
*Biofilms/growth & development
*Mucor/physiology/genetics/growth & development/pathogenicity/metabolism
*Fungal Proteins/metabolism/genetics/chemistry
*Spores, Fungal/growth & development
Virulence
Mucormycosis/microbiology
Animals
*Host-Pathogen Interactions
Protein Binding

@article {pmid42694428,
year = {2026},
author = {Liu, S and Yao, Y and Shen, H and Zhang, X},
title = {Light-responsive sodium butyrate-loaded manganese porphyrinic HOF for enhanced antibacterial and biofilm-inhibitory activity.},
journal = {Frontiers in chemistry},
volume = {14},
number = {},
pages = {1941361},
pmid = {42694428},
issn = {2296-2646},
abstract = {Bacterial infections of biofilms are hard to treat as the matrix and physiological differences in the cells within a biofilm limit the ability of traditional antibiotics to control the growth of bacteria. We synthesized a sodium butyrate-encapsulated manganese tetrakis (4-carboxyphenyl) porphyrin hydrogen-bonded organic framework (NaB@Mn-TCPP HOF), which was used to determine its physical and chemical properties, guest-loading capacity, release behavior, hemolytic effects, antibacterial activity and anti-biofilm formation of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The NaB incorporation was confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, zeta-potential measurement, elemental mapping, and other methods demonstrated that the parent Mn-TCPP HOF retained most of its principal spectroscopic, solid-state diffraction, and colloidal features. Indirect spectrophotometry of absorbance of UV light revealed an apparent loading of NaB of 56 percent with respect to the mass of carrier at feed ratio of 4 mg NaB per 5 mg carrier corresponding to an estimated NaB content of about 36 wt% in the recovered composite and an apparent encapsulation rate of about 70%. About half of the calculated loaded NaB was released gradually over 12 h without reaching the final plateau. In a five-group design that is exploratory and not dose-matched, images of the colonies were taken after exposure to 660 nm irradiation at 100 mW cm[-2,] and the results indicated the reduction of colony development, crystal-violet staining, propidium-iodide-associated signal, and surface-related bacterial coverage in the NaB@Mn-TCPP HOF group. Biofilm experiment was performed on the inhibition of a new biofilm in the course of 24 h instead of destroying an already matured one. After 2 hours of exposure, less than 5 percent hemolysis was produced by the composite at 100 micrograms mL [-1]. These findings can be used to make further studies of NaB@Mn-TCPP HOF as a combined material platform that reacts to light. It has not been clarified by the current design whether reactive oxygen species, manganese excretion, the pathway of bacteria controlled by NaB, or pharmacological interactions were involved.},
}

@article {pmid42682542,
year = {2026},
author = {Al-Bayatı, ESA and Külahcı, MB and Yıldız, Y},
title = {Fermented sausage-derived Latilactobacillus sakei postbiotic inhibits biofilm formation and quorum sensing-related virulence in clinical antibiotic-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa.},
journal = {Food science and biotechnology},
volume = {35},
number = {11},
pages = {3337-3348},
pmid = {42682542},
issn = {2092-6456},
abstract = {A single-center in vitro study was performed using 50 clinically-derived Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates to evaluate the antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and modulation of quorum sensing (QS)-related phenotypes of a fermented sausage-originated Latilactobacillus sakei postbiotic. A total of 50 antibiotic-resistant clinical P. aeruginosa isolates were evaluated. Thirty isolates (60%) were identified as strong biofilm producers. Biofilm formation was inhibited in all strong biofilm-producing isolates following treatment with the MIC/2 concentration of the L. sakei postbiotic. Application of the postbiotic at the MIC/2 concentration reduced biofilm formation and attenuated QS-regulated virulence traits, including pyocyanin production, exoprotease activity, swimming motility, and rhamnolipid production, in strong biofilm-forming isolates. These findings indicate that L. sakei-derived postbiotic may serve as a promising in vitro anti-virulence candidate against antibiotic-resistant P. aeruginosa by reducing biofilm formation and quorum sensing-related phenotypes. Nevertheless, further chemical, molecular, safety, and in vivo studies are needed to confirm its potential applications.},
}

@article {pmid42682619,
year = {2026},
author = {Li, X and Chen, F and Zheng, C and Yin, S},
title = {Immune-inflammatory prediction of PICC-related bloodstream infection in oldest-old adults with exploratory berberine biofilm-inflammation experiments.},
journal = {Frontiers in pharmacology},
volume = {17},
number = {},
pages = {1914929},
pmid = {42682619},
issn = {1663-9812},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Adults aged 80 years or older frequently require peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) placement for prolonged intravenous therapy, nutritional support, and difficult vascular access. In this oldest-old population, PICC-related bloodstream infection (PICC-CRBSI) risk may be shaped by catheter factors, frailty, nutritional depletion, immune-inflammatory imbalance, and competing events such as death or non-infectious catheter removal. This study developed and internally validated a competing-risk model for 60-day definite PICC-CRBSI in patients aged ≥80 years and separately explored the antibiofilm and anti-inflammatory activity of berberine in vitro.

METHODS: Consecutive patients aged ≥80 years who underwent PICC placement at a single tertiary teaching hospital between January 2019 and December 2025 were included in a retrospective cohort. The prediction landmark was 24 h after PICC insertion. Definite PICC-CRBSI within 60 days was analyzed with death and non-infectious PICC removal treated as competing events. Clinical, biomarker, and combined models were developed using L2-penalized Fine-Gray regression and internally validated with 1,000 patient-level bootstrap resamples. After model locking, a separate exploratory substudy evaluated berberine effects on Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilms formed on PICC material and on macrophage inflammatory responses induced by risk-stratified donor plasma and sterile biofilm-conditioned medium.

RESULTS: A total of 386 patients were analyzed, and 46 developed definite PICC-CRBSI over 19,528 catheter-days, corresponding to an incidence density of 2.36 per 1,000 catheter-days. Patients with definite PICC-CRBSI had greater frailty, longer catheter dwell time, lower lymphocyte and albumin levels, and higher systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio (CAR) than those without definite infection. The combined model showed an apparent 60-day time-dependent area under the curve (AUC) of 0.758 and a bootstrap-corrected AUC of 0.731, indicating moderate internally validated discrimination. The Aalen-Johansen 60-day cumulative incidence of PICC-CRBSI was 3.2%, 8.5%, and 28.1% in the low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups, respectively. In vitro, berberine reduced viable S. epidermidis biofilm burden from 7.656 log10 CFU/coupon under vehicle exposure to 6.919 log10 CFU/coupon at one-half of the strain-specific minimum inhibitory concentration. In macrophage experiments, high-risk donor plasma induced higher interleukin-6 release than low-risk donor plasma under vehicle conditions, while 10 μM berberine reduced interleukin-6 by approximately 23% without substantial cytotoxicity.

CONCLUSION: A single-center competing-risk model combining catheter-related variables with routine immune-inflammatory biomarkers provided preliminary internal risk stratification for 60-day PICC-CRBSI in patients aged ≥80 years. The berberine substudy suggested antibiofilm and anti-inflammatory activity in vitro, but it did not directly validate the clinical prediction model or establish clinical efficacy. Before the locked prediction equation can be used clinically, independent multicenter validation is required across settings with different PICC products, patient case-mix, catheter-maintenance protocols, blood-culture practices, and local microbiological epidemiology. Further mechanistic studies are also required before berberine-based catheter-infection prevention can be considered.},
}

@article {pmid42684916,
year = {2026},
author = {Tonhetta, AJV and Mozombite, LAC and Oliveira, NdS and Goes, ICRdS and Hori, PH and Iwai, LK and Galhardo, JVdL and Koide, T and Brocchi, M and Alvarez-Martinez, CE and Lourenço, RF},
title = {A functional interplay of hns genes governs the control of the motile-to-biofilm lifestyle switch in Burkholderia cenocepacia.},
journal = {Microbiology spectrum},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0034426},
doi = {10.1128/spectrum.00344-26},
pmid = {42684916},
issn = {2165-0497},
abstract = {UNLABELLED: The onset of the chronic stage of infection by bacteria in the Burkholderia cepacia complex depends on the controlled transition to the biofilm-associated lifestyle. In this study, we systematically investigated the effect of all five hns genes of Burkholderia cenocepacia H111 on the motile-to-biofilm lifestyle switch and pathogenicity. The hns genes are distributed across the three replicons (hns1.1 and hns1.2 on chromosome 1, hns2 on chromosome 2, and hns3.1 and hns3.2 on the megaplasmid pC3). We showed that deletion of either hns1.1 or hns1.2 affects cell growth and promotes the cell transition to the biofilm, with the major impact observed in cells lacking hns1.2. According to a comparative transcriptome analysis, the motile-to-biofilm switch linked to the absence of hns1.2 is supported by downregulation of flagellar and chemotaxis genes and upregulation of several genes involved in biofilm formation. In contrast, biofilm-related genes were downregulated; biofilm formation was reduced; and motility was increased in cells lacking hns3.1. An opposite impact of hns1.2 and hns3.1 on the motile-to-biofilm transition was also supported by using cells expressing these hns genes at high levels. Furthermore, hns3.1 and hns1.1 were shown to play a role in bacterial virulence in the Galleria mellonella infection model. Therefore, this study uncovers hns genes as new players of the motile-to-biofilm transition in B. cenocepacia.

IMPORTANCE: Several opportunistic pathogenic bacteria can thrive as motile, free-living cells in soil and water, as well as in biofilm in their hosts. This includes the closely related species comprising the Burkholderia cepacia complex, which chronically colonize the airway in individuals with cystic fibrosis. Over the last two decades, the number of genes involved in the control of the motile-to-biofilm lifestyle switch has increased in this bacterial group, particularly in Burkholderia cenocepacia. In the present study, we uncover three hns genes that participate in the motile-to-biofilm lifestyle switch in B. cenocepacia H111 under the conditions tested. While two chromosomally encoded hns genes work to maintain cells at the motile stage, a megaplasmid-encoded hns gene facilitates the cell transition to biofilm. By systematically investigating all five hns genes, we considerably expand our understanding of the control of the motile-to-biofilm lifestyle switch in the Burkholderia cepacia complex.},
}

@article {pmid42685669,
year = {2026},
author = {Garcia-Contreras, R and Vazquez-Vazquez, FC},
title = {Dental biomaterials-on-chip: A scoping review of dynamic material-tissue-biofilm models.},
journal = {Biomaterials advances},
volume = {190},
number = {},
pages = {215136},
doi = {10.1016/j.bioadv.2026.215136},
pmid = {42685669},
issn = {2772-9508},
abstract = {The preclinical evaluation of dental biomaterials remains largely dependent on static in vitro assays that provide limited insight into dynamic material-tissue-biofilm interactions. Microfluidic lab-on-a-chip (LoC) and organ-on-a-chip (OoC) platforms can reproduce selected features of the oral microenvironment, including controlled transport, tissue barriers, three-dimensional cellular organization, microbial challenge, and time-resolved monitoring. This scoping review with structured narrative synthesis mapped peer-reviewed dental and oral microfluidic studies published through July 27, 2026. An initial search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection, ScienceDirect, Embase, and IEEE Xplore was supplemented by an updated focused search, Google Scholar, and backward and forward citation tracking. Of 114 records identified, 82 remained after duplicate removal, 46 full-text reports were assessed, and 28 sources were included: 21 original experimental studies and seven dental/oral reviews. Original platforms comprised tooth and dentin-pulp models, oral mucosa and gingival barriers, periodontal and bone-vascular interfaces, dental pulp angiogenesis systems, peri-implant models, and dynamic host-microbe platforms. These systems enabled trans-barrier exposure, controlled flow and shear, long-term barrier monitoring, biomaterial cytotoxicity testing, inflammatory modeling, biofilm challenge, and regenerative assessment. Nevertheless, fluidic parameters, adsorption, oxygenation, comparator assays, and interlaboratory reproducibility were inconsistently reported. None of the included original dental studies used artificial intelligence for externally validated predictive inference. A conceptual Modular Dental Microfluidic Ecosystem Platform is presented as an evidence-informed future framework. Current dental chips should therefore be regarded as complementary mechanistic and qualification tools rather than replacements for standardized testing.},
}

@article {pmid42688089,
year = {2026},
author = {Nguyen, TTH and Hassan, M and Teng, KW and Backert, S and Wang, SW and Liu, CJ and Wu, DC and Kuo, CH and Kao, MC},
title = {HP1581 (WecA)-dependent O-antigen biosynthesis governs adhesion, virulence, and biofilm dynamics in Helicobacter pylori.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {17},
number = {},
pages = {1909795},
pmid = {42688089},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori lipopolysaccharide (LPS) contributes to bacterial fitness, immune evasion, host colonization, and virulence. The O-antigen region contains Lewis antigens and other glycans that facilitate adaptation to the gastric environment. HP1581 is predicted to encode a WecA-like UDP-N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphate transferase that catalyzes the first step of O-antigen biosynthesis. However, its role in LPS assembly and H. pylori pathogenesis remains unclear.

METHODS: An HP1581 (wecA) knockout mutant and a complemented strain were constructed in H. pylori strain 26695 to investigate the role of HP1581 in LPS biosynthesis, bacterial physiology, outer membrane vesicle (OMV) composition, host cell interactions, and virulence. Biofilm formation and swimming motility were examined using O-antigen-deficient mutants of the motile H. pylori G27 strain, including HP1581 (wecA), HP1206 (wzk), and HP1039 (waaL) mutants.

RESULTS: Disruption of HP1581 abolished O-antigen biosynthesis and eliminated Lewis X and Lewis Y antigen expression, resulting in a truncated LPS structure lacking the O-antigen region. The mutant displayed increased sensitivity to sodium dodecyl sulfate and novobiocin, elevated surface hydrophobicity and autoaggregation, and reduced survival during late-stage growth. Loss of HP1581 significantly impaired bacterial adhesion and internalization in AGS cells and attenuated the induction of the elongated (hummingbird) phenotype. In addition, OMVs from the mutant contained substantially lower levels of CagA and VacA. In the Galleria mellonella infection model, the mutant exhibited reduced persistence and attenuated virulence. Furthermore, O-antigen-deficient mutants of the motile H. pylori G27 strain, including HP1581 (wecA), HP1206 (wzk), and HP1039 (waaL) mutants, exhibited enhanced biofilm formation despite reduced swimming motility. Biofilm stability was found to depend primarily on extracellular proteins rather than extracellular DNA.

CONCLUSION: HP1581 (WecA) is essential for O-antigen biosynthesis and plays critical roles in maintaining outer membrane integrity, regulating bacterial surface properties, promoting host cell interactions, modulating virulence-associated factors, and influencing biofilm development. These findings identify HP1581 (WecA)-dependent O-antigen biosynthesis as a key determinant of H. pylori virulence and persistence and highlight HP1581 as a potential therapeutic target.},
}

@article {pmid42677026,
year = {2026},
author = {Sato, R and Sotozono, M and Takenaka, S and Ishii, H and Noiri, Y},
title = {Efficacy of the fully automated oral care robot with adjunctive MA-T gel for dental biofilm removal: A prospective crossover study.},
journal = {Journal of oral biology and craniofacial research},
volume = {16},
number = {5},
pages = {101526},
pmid = {42677026},
issn = {2212-4268},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Dental biofilm (DB) is the main cause of periodontal disease and dental caries, but individuals with impaired manual dexterity may struggle to brush effectively. Although fully automatic toothbrushing devices exist, their DB removal efficacy remains limited. The clinical efficacy of the next-generation multifunctional oral care robot (OCR) has not yet been evaluated. This study evaluated the DB removal efficacy of the OCR compared with manual and sonic toothbrushes and assessed the antibacterial effect of the Matching Transformation System (MA-T) gel used with OCR.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective crossover study, 10 dental professionals brushed under four conditions: manual toothbrush, sonic toothbrush, OCR, and OCR with MA-T gel (OCRM). DB removal was assessed using O'Leary's Plaque Control Record (PCR), and dental biofilm reduction rates (DBRR) were compared among the four methods. For the OCR and OCRM groups, saliva samples were collected from five randomly selected participants to assess total streptococcal and Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) counts.

RESULTS: PCR scores decreased significantly after brushing in all groups (p < 0.05). Pairwise comparisons demonstrated a significantly greater DBRR for the manual toothbrush than for the sonic toothbrush (p < 0.05), whereas no significant differences were observed among the other brushing methods. Salivary total streptococcal counts decreased more with OCRM than with OCR (p < 0.05). S. mutans reduction did not differ significantly.

CONCLUSION: The OCR demonstrated DB removal efficacy comparable to manual and sonic toothbrushes. OCRM resulted in a greater reduction of salivary total streptococci than OCR alone.},
}

@article {pmid42678153,
year = {2026},
author = {Pressler, K and Lorkowski, M and Hengge, R},
title = {Redox control and mechanisms of transmembrane signaling in CSS domain c-di-GMP phosphodiesterases that control biofilm formation in Escherichia coli.},
journal = {mBio},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0132526},
doi = {10.1128/mbio.01325-26},
pmid = {42678153},
issn = {2150-7511},
abstract = {Bis-(3',5')-cyclic dimeric guanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP) control of biofilm formation in Escherichia coli K-12 is balanced by multiple diguanylate cyclases (DGCs) and c-di-GMP-specific phosphodiesterases (PDEs). Five of the 13 PDEs feature a periplasmic CSS domain with two conserved cysteines, flanked by transmembrane (TM) regions, and an enzymatically active cytoplasmic EAL domain. One of these (PdeC) was previously shown to be redox-regulated by DsbA/DsbB-mediated disulfide bond (DSB) formation in the cysteine serine serine (CSS) domain. Comparing all five CSS domain PDEs, we found them to fall into two groups with similar biochemical features, resulting in different consequences for PDE activity. PdeB, PdeC, and PdeG are more active when lacking the periplasmic DSB, resulting in diminished biofilm formation, while PdeN and PdeD are active in their oxidized forms. Using PdeB and PdeN as prototypes for the two groups, not only the periplasmic DSB but also differently charged amino acid motifs close to the transmembrane (TM) domains and a putative additional DSB in PdeN were identified as important for transmembrane signaling. All these elements, including its stable structural DSB in the periplasm, which can form independently of DsbA, maintain PdeN in a rigid, proteolysis-resistant active conformation. By contrast, for PdeB, the more rigid DSB-containing conformation is inactive, with mutations in the stabilizing elements leading to a structurally less constrained, more active enzyme. Notably, low PdeN levels are post-transcriptionally upregulated at acidic pH, resulting in less biofilm formation. Overall, the five CSS domain PDEs enable E. coli to adapt to diverse environmental niches.IMPORTANCESensing environmental cues and transmembrane signal transduction via membrane-embedded proteins is a process of key importance in all living cells. To investigate the molecular mechanisms involved, we performed a systematic functional comparison of the five CSS domain phosphodiesterases of Escherichia coli, which degrade the bacterial second messenger c-di-GMP in response to redox and other signals. With a sensory domain in the periplasm linked to a cytoplasmic enzymatic domain, these proteins represent minimal devices for transmembrane signaling. We demonstrate that these signal-transducing enzymes fall into two functional classes with a similar periplasmic redox biochemistry resulting in opposite states of cytoplasmic enzymatic activity. Several characteristic sequence elements convey redox and structural information in the periplasmic and transmembrane protein segments to their ability to dimerize into an enzymatically active form in the cytoplasm. Comparing the five enzymes also shows that evolution has played with these elements to facilitate adaptation to various environmental niches.},
}

@article {pmid42679010,
year = {2026},
author = {Daneshnia, F and Gunasekaran, D and Bergin, S and Lombardi, L and Perry, AM and Cai, L and Walker, LA and Nemeth, T and Hilmioglu-Polat, S and Salzberg, LI and Ebadati, A and Köhler, T and Braune, G and de Almeida, JN and Caggiano, G and Kus, JV and Mosharaf Ghahfarokhy, P and Munoz, J and Floyd, DJ and Fuentes-Palacios, D and Gonçalves, SM and Gonçales, RA and Salehi, M and Desai, JV and Carvalho, A and Mei, S and Munro, CA and Hopke, A and Gabaldón, T and Gacser, A and Kurzai, O and Butler, G and Perlin, DS and Fang, W and Nobile, CJ and Mansour, MK and Arastehfar, A},
title = {Outbreaks of fluconazole-resistant Candida parapsilosis are driven by low-biofilm-producing isolates that emerge under host selection.},
journal = {PLoS biology},
volume = {24},
number = {9},
pages = {e3003973},
doi = {10.1371/journal.pbio.3003973},
pmid = {42679010},
issn = {1545-7885},
abstract = {Candida parapsilosis is a major human fungal pathogen, with recent global outbreaks driven by fluconazole-resistant (FLCR-Cp) isolates that are difficult to eradicate and associated with poor clinical outcomes. However, the microbial traits enabling persistence of these outbreak lineages remain poorly defined. Here, we show that FLCR-Cp isolates responsible for prolonged, multi-country outbreaks consistently exhibit a striking low-biofilm-producing (LBP) phenotype. Contrary to the prevailing view that robust biofilm formation promotes persistence, LBP strains displayed enhanced stress tolerance, increased cell wall masking, and reduced immune recognition. These traits conferred resistance to neutrophil and macrophage killing and enhanced survival in immune cell-rich organs during systemic infection. Genome-wide transcriptomic profiling revealed extensive metabolic and regulatory rewiring in LBP strains. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of a global isolate collection further demonstrated that the LBP phenotype has emerged independently multiple times, supporting convergent evolution under host selection. Functional genomic analyses suggest that biofilm attenuation arises through multigenic changes, and disruption of key biofilm-associated transcriptional regulators enhanced fitness during immune interactions. Together, our findings overturn the assumption that robust biofilm formation drives outbreak persistence and instead identify biofilm attenuation as an adaptive tradeoff that promotes immune evasion and long-term survival. These results redefine our understanding of C. parapsilosis adaptation during healthcare-associated outbreaks and shift attention toward host-driven evolutionary processes than environmental persistence alone.},
}

@article {pmid42680310,
year = {2026},
author = {Pathirana, HNKS and Flint, S and Palmer, J},
title = {Interface-dependent V. parahaemolyticus biofilm under varying temperatures, media, and oxygen conditions: implications for seafood safety.},
journal = {Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)},
volume = {242},
number = {Pt 3},
pages = {120008},
doi = {10.1016/j.foodres.2026.120008},
pmid = {42680310},
issn = {1873-7145},
mesh = {*Biofilms/growth & development ; *Vibrio parahaemolyticus/growth & development/physiology/metabolism ; *Oxygen/metabolism ; *Seafood/microbiology ; *Temperature ; *Food Microbiology ; Stainless Steel ; Culture Media ; *Food Safety ; Microbial Viability ; },
abstract = {Vibrio parahaemolyticus biofilms play a critical role in pathogen persistence in marine and seafood-processing environments, where oxygen availability, temperature, and surface interfaces vary widely. This study investigated biofilm development by three strains on partially submerged stainless-steel coupons under gas-liquid-wall (GLW) and fully submerged (SM) interfaces. Viable cell counts (log10CFU/cm[2]) along with normalized protein concentration per viable cell (nProt) and normalized polysaccharide concentration per viable cell (nPol) were measured, under aerobic and anaerobic conditions across a temperature range of 15-30 °C, using tryptic soy broth with 3% NaCl (TSB) and seawater-based medium (SW). GLW biofilms consistently exhibited higher cell counts (6.4-7.3 log10CFU/cm[2]) compared to SM biofilms (5.9-6.3 log10CFU/cm[2]), suggesting that enhanced oxygen diffusion promotes bacterial proliferation. Conversely, SM biofilms exhibited significantly higher nProt and nPol levels (p < 0.001), indicating increased production of the extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) matrix under low-oxygen, high-nutrient conditions. Microscopy and three-dimensional surface plot analyses revealed relatively uniform biofilm layers at the GLW interface, whereas SM biofilms formed heterogeneous, tower-like structures. EPS production was further influenced by medium composition, oxygen, and temperature. SM biofilms grown in SW exhibited significantly higher nProt and nPol than those in TSB under aerobic conditions (p < 0.001), indicating enhanced matrix stabilization. Under anaerobic conditions at 15 °C, nProt and nPol were higher, whereas under aerobic conditions, peak nProt and nPol occurred at elevated temperatures. These findings highlight a trade-off between bacterial growth and matrix production and provide insight into biofilm adaptation and persistence in seafood-processing environments. These insights may help develop improved biofilm control and seafood safety management.},
}

*Biofilms/growth & development
*Vibrio parahaemolyticus/growth & development/physiology/metabolism
*Oxygen/metabolism
*Seafood/microbiology
*Temperature
*Food Microbiology
Stainless Steel
Culture Media
*Food Safety
Microbial Viability

@article {pmid42673801,
year = {2026},
author = {Hu, X and Heeb, S and Zhang, H and Marsili, E},
title = {Biofilm-associated transformation of polylactic acid (PLA) microbeads by single- and dual-species bacterial communities.},
journal = {Journal of hazardous materials},
volume = {516},
number = {},
pages = {143428},
doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.143428},
pmid = {42673801},
issn = {1873-3336},
abstract = {Biofilm formation represents a pivotal step in bioplastic biodegradation, yet the degradation is often limited by insufficient microbial colonization and unstable biofilm formation. This study investigated the early-stage biodegradation of polylactic acid (PLA) microbeads in presence of single- (Pseudomonas putida, Escherichia coli) and dual-species biofilms on after 1 and 7 days of incubation in M9 minimal medium at 30°C. PLA surface alterations confirmed that the dual-species biofilms caused interfacial transformation, as shown by the CO bond cleavage, C-O and C-C bond formation, as well as reduced thermal stability of PLA, with CO atomic ratio decreasing from 26.1 ± 0.50% to 16.0 ± 1.11% after 7 days. In multi-well plates, dual-species biofilms show higher biomass than single-species, but biofilm formation on PLA microbeads was lower than single-species P. putida. Quantification of the key intermediate metabolites lactate and pyruvate levels in dual-species biofilms show metabolic cooperation between the two species. The improved degradation performance was attributed to enhanced interfacial colonization and complementary metabolic activity that collectively promoted sustained polymer hydrolysis. These findings suggest a controllable biofilm-based strategy for improving PLA bioconversion efficiency and offer insights into designing microbial consortia for polymer biodegradation processes.},
}

@article {pmid42673920,
year = {2026},
author = {Du, X and Liao, Z and Xie, W and Lin, D and Wang, Z and Nie, J and Zhang, W and Luo, Y and Shaw, DR and Saikaly, PE},
title = {A Microalgal-bacterial Consortium Reshapes Biofilm Architecture to Enhance Stable Flux in a Gravity-Driven Membrane Bioreactor.},
journal = {Water research},
volume = {308},
number = {Pt A},
pages = {126724},
doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2026.126724},
pmid = {42673920},
issn = {1879-2448},
abstract = {Global expansion of mariculture generates large volumes of saline wastewater that require sustainable and decentralized treatment to protect coastal ecosystems. Gravity-driven membrane bioreactors (GMBRs) are an attractive low-energy option for this purpose; however, severe membrane fouling in saline environments usually limits water flux. In this study, a microalgal-bacterial consortium (MBC) was introduced to reshape biofilm architecture and improve the long-term performance of GMBRs. Four ceramic membrane-integrated GMBRs were operated for 160 days to treat synthetic mariculture wastewater, including two MBC systems with bacteria-to-microalgae inoculation ratios of 3:2 and 5:2 and two bacteria-only controls. The optimized MBC system (5:2) achieved a stable flux of 14.9 LMH, which was 2.4 times that of the conventional GMBRs (∼6 LMH), while also showing superior nutrient removal (TN removal: 67.9-73.3%, effluent TN: 4.65-5.73 mg/L; TP removal: 92.0-96.3%, effluent TP: 0.1-0.3 mg/L). The improved performance was associated with the formation of larger, more porous aggregates (>20 μm), the development of a synergistic MBC architecture, and enhanced degradation of extracellular polymeric substances. Confocal laser scanning microscopy and scanning electron microscopy revealed a dynamic "loose-dense-loose" structural evolution of the biofilm in the MBC systems, which prevented the dense and irreversible layering observed in the conventional systems. Microbial community analysis further showed that the optimized system enriched functional bacteria (e.g., Nitrosomonas and Nitrospira) while maintaining high microalgal viability. These findings demonstrate that MBC is an effective strategy for improving GMBR performance and offers a sustainable approach for mariculture wastewater treatment.},
}