Development of small molecules that work cooperatively with ciprofloxacin to clear salmonella biofilms in a chronic gallbladder carriage model.

Salmonella enterica serovars cause millions of infections each year that result either in typhoid fever or salmonellosis. Among those serovars that cause typhoid fever, Salmonella enterica subspecies Typhi can form biofilms on gallstones in the gallbladders of acutely-infected patients, leading to chronic carriage of the bacterium. These biofilms are recalcitrant to antibiotic-mediated eradication, leading to chronic fecal shedding of the bacteria, which results in further disease transmission.

A dual-therapy approach for the treatment of biofilm-mediated Salmonella gallbladder carriage.

Asymptomatic carriage of Salmonella Typhi continues to facilitate the transmission of typhoid fever, resulting in 14 million new infections and 136,000 fatalities each year. Asymptomatic chronic carriage of S. Typhi is facilitated by the formation of biofilms on gallstones that protect the bacteria from environmental insults and immune system clearance.

Identification of a Small Molecule Anti-biofilm Agent Against .

Biofilm formation is a common strategy utilized by bacterial pathogens to establish persistence in a host niche. serovar Typhi, the etiological agent of Typhoid fever, relies on biofilm formation in the gallbladder to chronically colonize asymptomatic carriers, allowing for transmission to uninfected individuals. serovar Typhimurium utilizes biofilms to achieve persistence in human and animal hosts, an issue of both clinical and agricultural importance.