Microbial anti-biofilms: types and mechanism of action

Biofilms have been recognized as a serious threat to public health as it protects microbes from antimicrobials, immune defence mechanisms, chemical treatments and nutritional stress. Biofilms are also a source of concern in industries and water treatment because their presence compromises the integrity of equipment. To overcome these problems, it is necessary to identify novel anti-biofilm compounds. Products of microorganisms have been identified as promising broad-spectrum anti-biofilm agents. These natural products include biosurfactants, antimicrobial peptides, enzymes and bioactive compounds. Anti-biofilm products of microbial origin are chemically diverse and possess a broad spectrum of activities against biofilms. The objective of this review is to give an overview of the different types of microbial anti-biofilm products and their mechanisms of action.