Background: Bacterial biofilms are aggregation or collection of different bacterial cells which are covered by self-produced extracellular matrix and are attached to a substratum. Generally, under stress or in unfavorable conditions, free planktonic bacteria transform themselves into bacterial biofilms and become sessile.
Main body: Various mechanisms involving interaction between antimicrobial and biofilm matrix components, reduced growth rates, and genes conferring antibiotic resistance have been described to contribute to enhanced resistance. Quorum sensing and multi-drug resistance efflux pumps are known to regulate the internal environment within the biofilm as well as biofilm formation; they also protect cells from antibiotic attack or immune attacks. This review summarizes data supporting the importance of exopolysaccharides during biofilm formation and its role in antibiotic resistance.
Conclusions: Involvement of quorum sensing and efflux pumps in antibiotic resistance in association with exopolysaccharides. Also, strategies to overcome or attack biofilms are provided.
Keywords: Biofilm; Drug resistance; Exopolysaccharide; Quorum sensing.
© 2021. The Author(s).