BACKGROUND
Biofilms are communities of microbes adhering to a surface and often embedded in an extracellular matrix. As a result of this structure, biofilms exhibit resistance to both host immune responses and antibiotics. Approximately 80% of human bacterial infections involve biofilms; this can take the form of chronic wound infections, chronic otitis media, osteomyelitis, recurrent urinary tract infection, endocarditis, and cystic fibrosis-associated lung infections. There is also a high incidence of biofilm-associated infections affecting indwelling catheters, orthopedic implants, stents and implantable electronic devices. Consequently, there is an urgent need for innovative therapeutic approaches to treat biofilm infections.
SUMMARY OF TECHNOLOGY
Researchers at OSU and LSU have developed synthetic methods to prepare molecules that inhibit the bacterioferritin (BfrB) and bacterioferritin-associated ferredoxin (Bfd). Inhibiting this protein complex formation disrupts the iron-homeostasis, causing an irreversible accumulation of Fe3+ in BfrB, accompanied by cytosolic iron deficiency. A major benefit of disrupting this system is that BfrB-Bfd are only found in bacteria, making this system theoretically unable to damage eukaryotic cells. Test data show efficacy at killing bacteria in both planktonic and biofilm settings.
POTENTIAL AREAS OF APPLICATION
MAIN ADVANTAGES
STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT