Review of the mechanisms of oral biofilm dispersal

Abstract

Bacterial biofilm is a structure that makes bacteria adhere to a medium surface and this kind of colonies allows bacteria to adapt to the surrounding environment more easily. The final stage of biofilm development is the detachment of cells from the biofilm colony and their dispersal into the environment, which is called as biofilm dispersal. Biofilm dispersal can be mediated by the mechanisms such as enzymatic degradation, seeding dispersal, and the production of rhamnolipids. It can be regulated by the factors inside or outside the biofilm colony. Biofilm dispersal plays an important role in the exacerbation and spread of infection within a host. On the other side, the dispersal bacteria will lose the protection of the biofilm and making itself more easily to be wiped out. Biofilm dispersal is a promising area of research that may lead to find a way to promote biofilm dispersal and to provide a new idea for solving the intractable bacterial infection. This review describes the current status of research on biofilm formation, the mechanisms of the dispersal, the regulation of the dispersal process and the clinical implications of biofilm dispersal. The potential therapeutic applications will also be discussed. Key words: Bacterial; Biofilms; Seed dispersal; Virulence