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Flemming HC, van Hullebusch ED, Little BJ, Neu TR, Nielsen PH, Seviour T, Stoodley P, Wingender J, Wuertz S. Microbial extracellular polymeric substances in the environment, technology and medicine. Nat Rev Microbiol 2024:10.1038/s41579-024-01098-y. [PMID: 39333414 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-024-01098-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/14/2024] [Indexed: 09/29/2024]
Abstract
Microbial biofilms exhibit a self-produced matrix of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), including polysaccharides, proteins, extracellular DNA and lipids. EPS promote interactions of the biofilm with other cells and sorption of organics, metals and chemical pollutants, and they facilitate cell adhesion at interfaces and ensure matrix cohesion. EPS have roles in various natural environments, such as soils, sediments and marine habitats. In addition, EPS are relevant in technical environments, such as wastewater and drinking water treatment facilities, and water distribution systems, and they contribute to biofouling and microbially influenced corrosion. In medicine, EPS protect pathogens within the biofilm against the host immune system and antimicrobials, and emerging evidence suggests that EPS can represent potential virulence factors. By contrast, EPS yield a wide range of valuable products that include their role in self-repairing concrete. In this Review, we aim to explore EPS as a functional unit of biofilms in the environment, in technology and in medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans-Curt Flemming
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore.
- Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IOCAS), Qingdao, China.
| | | | | | - Thomas R Neu
- Department of River Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Per H Nielsen
- Center for Microbial Communities, Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Thomas Seviour
- Aarhus University Centre for Water Technology, Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Paul Stoodley
- Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity and the Department of Orthopaedics, the Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- National Centre for Advanced Tribology at Southampton (nCATS), National Biofilm Innovation Centre (NBIC), Mechanical Engineering, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Jost Wingender
- University of Duisburg-Essen, Faculty of Chemistry, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Essen, Germany
| | - Stefan Wuertz
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
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Kaluarachchi TDJ, Campbell PM, Wickremasinghe R, Ranasinghe S, Yasewardene S, De Silva H, McBain AJ, Weerasekera M. Possible clinical implications and future directions of managing bacterial biofilms in cutaneous leishmaniasis wounds. Trop Med Health 2022; 50:58. [PMID: 36028889 PMCID: PMC9414163 DOI: 10.1186/s41182-022-00455-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) lesions are chronic and result in disfiguring scars. The microbiological aspects of these wounds have not been systematically investigated. We have recently reported that 61.5% of CL wounds in a Sri Lankan cohort harboured bacterial biofilms, mainly composed of bacilli, Enterobacteriaceae, and Pseudomonas, which could delay wound healing. We have additionally reported that biofilms were significantly associated patients over 40 years of age, discharge, pain and/or itching of the wound, and high pus cell counts. Using this as background knowledge and other relevant literature, we highlight the importance of investigating the role of biofilms in CL wound healing, clinical indicators, cost-effective laboratory tests involving less invasive sampling techniques for diagnosing biofilms and potential therapeutic options for biofilm-containing CL wounds, such as adjunctive application of wound debridement and antimicrobial treatment along with anti-parasitic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- T D Jayasena Kaluarachchi
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka.
| | - Paul M Campbell
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Renu Wickremasinghe
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka
| | - Shalindra Ranasinghe
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka
| | - Surangi Yasewardene
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka
| | | | - Andrew J McBain
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Manjula Weerasekera
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka.,Sri Lanka Institute of Biotechnology (SLIBTEC), Pitipana, Homagama, Sri Lanka
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Jayasena Kaluarachchi TD, Campbell PM, Wickremasinghe R, Ranasinghe S, Wickremasinghe R, Yasawardene S, De Silva H, Menike C, Jayarathne MCK, Jayathilake S, Dilhari A, McBain AJ, Weerasekera MM. Distinct microbiome profiles and biofilms in Leishmania donovani-driven cutaneous leishmaniasis wounds. Sci Rep 2021; 11:23181. [PMID: 34848752 PMCID: PMC8633208 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-02388-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The endemic strain of Leishmania donovani in Sri Lanka causes cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) rather than more common visceral form. We have visualized biofilms and profiled the microbiome of lesions and unaffected skin in thirty-nine CL patients. Twenty-four lesions (61.5%) were biofilm-positive according to fluorescence in situ hybridization. Biopsies of biofilm-positive lesions were dominated by Pseudomonas, class Bacilli and Enterobacteriaceae and distinguished by significantly lower community evenness. Higher relative abundance of a class Bacilli OTU was detected in wound swabs versus contralateral skin. Wound swabs and biopsies had significantly distinct microbiome profiles and lower diversity compared to unaffected skin. Greater abundances of potentially pathogenic organisms were observed in wet ulcers, lesions with high parasite loads and large wounds. In summary, more than half of L. donovani associated CL wounds harboured biofilms and the wounds exhibited a distinct, less diverse, microbiome than unaffected skin.
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Affiliation(s)
- T D Jayasena Kaluarachchi
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Gangodawila, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka.
| | - Paul M Campbell
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Rajitha Wickremasinghe
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
| | - Shalindra Ranasinghe
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Gangodawila, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka
| | - Renu Wickremasinghe
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Gangodawila, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka
| | - Surangi Yasawardene
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Gangodawila, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka
| | | | - Chandrani Menike
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Gangodawila, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka
| | - M C K Jayarathne
- Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Gangodawila, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka
| | - Subodha Jayathilake
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Gangodawila, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka
| | - Ayomi Dilhari
- Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Gangodawila, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka
| | - Andrew J McBain
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Manjula M Weerasekera
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Gangodawila, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka
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