Targeted disruption of the extracellular polymeric network of biofilms by alginate oligosaccharides.

Acquisition of a mucoid phenotype by sp. in the lungs of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, with subsequent over-production of extracellular polymeric substance (EPS), plays an important role in mediating the persistence of multi-drug resistant (MDR) infections. The ability of a low molecular weight (Mn = 3200 g mol) alginate oligomer (OligoG CF-5/20) to modify biofilm structure of mucoid (NH57388A) was studied in vitro using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) with Texas Red (TxRd®)-labelled OligoG and EPS histochemical staining.