Biofilms in mycobacterial infection

Abstract

The ability to form biofilms in lung tissue destruction cavities has been described for both the causative agent of tuberculosis (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) and for non-tuberculous mycobacteria. This process is associated with the chronic infection. It is assumed that a change in the biology of the pathogen inside the biofilm (formation of an antibiotic-resistant phenotype) makes ineffective standard chemotherapy regimens, which based on the susceptibility test data of mycobacteria in the “free state”. This review describes the biology of mycobacterial biofilms and the main approaches to combat them. Available information suggests that control of mycobacterial biofilm formation is one potential strategy to improve the effectiveness of treatment for tuberculosis and mycobacteriosis.

Keywords

• biofilm
• mycobacterium
• treatment
• antibiofilm agents