Scientists discover mechanism that breaks down bacterial biofilms

An international team of researchers has identified a previously unknown mechanism that enables bacteria to break free from biofilms—the protective structures that shield them from antibiotics and the immune system—potentially opening new avenues for combating antibiotic-resistant infections.

The findings, published in Nature Microbiology, were led by researchers at the University of California San Diego and involved scientists from Spain's Pompeu Fabra University (UPF), Euronews reveals. 

Biofilms are communities of bacteria encased in a sticky protective layer that the microorganisms produce themselves. These structures make infections significantly harder to treat by reducing the effectiveness of antibiotics and helping bacteria evade the body's immune defences. Biofilms are commonly associated with persistent infections linked to medical implants, catheters and chronic wounds.

The researchers discovered that, when it is time for bacteria to disperse and colonise new locations, they produce a hydrogel—a gel-like substance that absorbs water. As the hydrogel expands, it generates enough pressure to force bacterial cells out of the biofilm, allowing them to spread.

According to the study, this mechanism had not previously been identified.

The research team also demonstrated that the process can be manipulated in the laboratory. By enhancing the hydrogel-driven mechanism, they succeeded in triggering the disintegration of bacterial biofilms without using antibiotics.

The findings suggest a potential new strategy for weakening bacterial defences, which could eventually help improve the treatment of persistent infections that are often resistant to conventional antibiotics.

However, the researchers cautioned that the work remains at an early stage. The experiments were conducted using a model bacterium under laboratory conditions, and the approach is still far from being developed into a treatment for patients.

The scientists said further research will be needed to determine whether the mechanism exists in disease-causing bacteria and whether it can be safely harnessed for medical use.

The discovery adds to ongoing global efforts to address antibiotic resistance, which health experts consider one of the world's most pressing public health challenges. By revealing how bacteria naturally dismantle their own protective communities, the study may provide a foundation for future therapies aimed at making stubborn infections more vulnerable to existing antibiotics and the immune system.

By Sabina Mammadli