Chapter 25 - Novel perspectives on phytochemicals-based approaches for mitigation of biofilms in ESKAPE pathogens: recent trends and future avenues

Abstract

Bacterial biofilms are self-assembled structures of bacterial groups engrafted in a self-produced polymeric complex consisting of polysaccharides, proteins, and nucleic acids. Several pathogenic bacteria, particularly ESKAPE pathogens (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter sp.), naturally can form biofilm in response to several stress parameters. The emergence of biofilm-associated infections has a significant impact on the global economy as well as the healthcare sectors. Since biofilms play a critical role in the severity of chronic bacterial infections and the resurgence of multidrug resistance to conventional antibiotics, it is imperative to develop novel anti-biofilm strategies to mitigate biofilm formation and development. The traditional anti-biofilm strategy lies in the development of synthetic and semisynthetic compounds and their analogues. However, relative toxicity, relatively less absorptivity, and biodegradability issues limit their widespread applications. In this context, natural products with special reference to structurally diverse and pharmacologically important plant-derived phytochemicals are considered effective and alternative therapeutic regimens to target bacterial biofilms. In recent years, plant-derived bioactive secondary metabolites are actively investigated for their ability to quench bacterial cell-to-cell communication and thus could be employed for the inhibition and eradication of biofilms. The phytochemicals could also be used in combination with several other therapeutic approaches such as nanoparticles and antimicrobial photodynamic therapy for mitigation of recalcitrant biofilm matrix. The chapter emphasizes the pivotal role of phytochemicals in the fight against biofilm-associated infections and multidrug-resistant ESKAPE pathogens. The chapter also provides insight into combinatorial approaches to decipher the mechanism of biofilm inhibition. The chapter will also provide new dimensions to the scientific efforts in the management of biofilm prevention and eradication of formed biofilms in the near future.