Very soon we will have a proven way of combating biofilm by disrupting these bacteria-created force fields and breaking them down. Either through bioengineering other bacteria or synthesising enzymes which can be administered directly to a wound or through pharmaceutical administration. To this day, we still have our hands tied when it comes to easily or successfully treating infections caused by gram-negative bacteria.
In this false-colored image, individual cells of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (green) can be seen resting on the fibrous surface of a biofilm (purple) that helps protect cells beneath its surface. At the top right, two cells incorporated within the biofilm peek out from a fissure in the film’s surface. Credit: Debra Weinstein, Sao-Mai Nguyen-Mau, and Vincent Lee.
Overview: Researchers at the University of Maryland have discovered the signaling molecule, called cyclic-di-GMP, which activates biofilm formation and one day may aid scientists and doctors in combating biofilm. The most virulent classification of bacteria falls into the Gram-negative group and they are all known as biofilm producers. Members of this group include Helicobacter pylori, E. coli, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Haemophilus influenzae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Legionella pneumophila, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and many others. Biofilm is a protective coating or shield; made up of sugars, DNA, and protein; that enables these bacteria to evade detection and makes them almost impossible to kill.
Original Article: ‘Off switch’ enzyme in biofilms identified to prevent formation
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What about using essential oils to destroy biofilms. I read the results of a scientific experiment that found that while the antibiotics were not able to fight the bacteria because of the biofilm, the essential oils were able to destroy the biofilm as well as the bacteria, in particular Lemongrass and Peppermint were effective. Do you know of any uses for these in batting gastro intestinal infections?
Sorry for the delay. Peppermint may have some benefit along with a comprehensive nutraceutical biofilm protocol. Biofilm is tough so the more angles you can hit it from the better.