Author(s):
Simões, M.
; Cleto, S.
; Simões, Lúcia C.
; Pereira, M. O.
; Vieira, M. J.
Date: 2007
Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/1822/7581
Origin: RepositóriUM - Universidade do Minho
Description
Biofilms are ubiquitous in nature and can cause significant problems in public health,
medicine and industry. Antimicrobial approaches to treat bacterial proliferation and
biofilm formation constitute a focal point of modern research. We are entering a
post-chemical antimicrobial era, not only due to the need to delivering of environmentally-
friendly products, but also due to the increasing resistance of some pathogens
against the most common antimicrobials, and the recalcitrance of biofilms even when
treated with high concentrations of chemicals. An innovative approach to control
biofilms can be the based on application of the concepts of microbial ecology, already
under study in the development of biocontrol on seeds, roots and plants. The modes
of action of those biocontrol systems can include, among others, the inhibition of
microorganisms by antimicrobial compounds and competition for iron through the
production of siderophores. To sequester and solubilise ferric iron, many microorganisms
utilise an efficient system consisting of low-molecular mass compounds with
high iron affinity termed siderophores (iron-scavenging agents). Siderophore production
is a virulence factor of many microorganisms, as they can act as a biocontrol
factor. In this review we will present some knowledge on the potential of siderophores
and irondependent mechanisms, mainly related with Pseudomonas spp., as a new
line of biofilm control strategies.