Bacterial biofilm-derived antigens: a new strategy for vaccine development against infectious diseases

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Microorganisms can develop into a social organization known as biofilms and these communities can be found in virtually all types of environment on earth. In biofilms, cells grow as multicellular communities held together by a self-produced extracellular matrix. Living within a biofilm allows for the emergence of specific properties for these cells that their planktonic counterparts do not have. Furthermore, biofilms are the cause of several infectious diseases and are frequently inhabited by multi-species. These interactions between microbial species are often critical for the biofilm process. Despite the importance of biofilms in disease, vaccine antigens are typically prepared from bacteria grown as planktonic cells under laboratory conditions. Vaccines based on planktonic bacteria may not provide optimal protection against biofilm-driven infections.

Areas covered

In this review, we will present an overview of biofilm formation, what controls this mode of growth, and recent vaccine development targeting biofilms.

Expert opinion

Previous and ongoing research provides evidence that vaccine formulation with antigens derived from biofilms is a promising approach to prevent infectious diseases and can enhance the protective efficacy of existing vaccines. Therefore, research focusing on the identification of biofilm-derived antigens merits further investigations.

KEYWORDS:

• Biofilms
• multi-species biofilms
• quorum sensing
• biofilm-derived antigens
• vaccine design

Article highlights

• Biofilms are structures formed by cells embedded into a matrix that enables bacterial adaptation to different microniches and survival under adverse environmental conditions.

• Biofilms allow pathogenic bacteria to escape the immune system, as well as decrease susceptibility to antibiotics and biocides.

• Polymicrobial biofilm-associated infections currently affect millions and these infections are commonly found in the lung, inner ear, urinary tract, oral cavity, and in wounds, or are associated with medical devices and foreign bodies.

• When grown as biofilm, cells are phenotypically different than their planktonic counterparts and biofilms-derived antigens could be used for the development of new or improve current vaccines.

• Biofilm-derived antigens are attractive targets for developing vaccines. Furthermore, new approaches are needed to identify biofilm-derived antigens and their protective efficacy.

Acknowledgments

Current investigations from the group are supported by CONACYT/México. We thank Karen Ottemann (University of California Santa Cruz) for the SEM image of Helicobacter pylori. We also thank Adriana C. Moreno Flores for your technical assistance to obtain the images of SEM of A. pleuropneumoniae.

Author contributions

All authors participated in the development and review of the manuscript and approved the final submitted version. Loera-Muro Abraham: Conceptualization, Formal analysis, Writing original draft - review & editing, Figures. Guerrero-Barrera Alma: Writing original draft - review & editing, Figures. Tremblay Yannick D.N.: Writing original draft – review, English editing. Hathroubi Skander: Writing original draft – review, English editing. Angulo Carlos: Funding acquisition, Writing - review & editing, Project administration.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was funded by CONACYT/México (grants INFR-2014-01/225924 to CA) and ‘Program of Cátedras CONACYT’ to ALM.