EXPLORING THE ROLES OF BIOFILSM AND ALTERNATIVETHERAPEUTICS

Abstract

This study investigated the roles of microbial biofilms in infection persistence and antimicrobial resistance, and evaluated the effectiveness of selected alternative therapeutics against biofilm-forming pathogens. The objectives were to characterize the structural and physiological properties of biofilms, examine their contribution to antimicrobial resistance, and assess the anti-biofilm activity of alternative therapeutic agents. A laboratory-based experimental design was adopted for the study. A total of 50 microbial isolates comprising Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans were used. Biofilm formation was induced using the 96-well microtiter plate method and quantified through the Crystal Violet assay. The anti-biofilm effects of selected alternative therapeutics, including bacteriophages, antimicrobial peptides, plant-derived compounds, and silver nanoparticles, were assessed based on biomass reduction, viable cell count, and synergy with conventional antibiotics. Data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) at 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that most of the isolates were moderate to strong biofilm formers and that biofilm-associated cells were more resistant to conventional antibiotics than planktonic cells. The study also found that selected alternative therapeutics, especially silver nanoparticles, bacteriophages, and antimicrobial peptides, demonstrated strong anti-biofilm activity. The study concluded that microbial biofilms significantly contribute to persistent infections and antibiotic resistance, while alternative therapeutics show promising potential in biofilm control and treatment