LITERATURE REVIEW: THE POTENTIAL OF BACTERIOPHAGES AS ANTIBIOFILM OF ESCHERICHIA COLI

Abstract

Escherichia coli has the potential as a pathogenic bacterium and causes various diseases such as diarrhea, urinary tract infections, and meningitis. Other than that, E. coli also known to have the ability to form biofilm. Biofilm is an extracellular matrix secreted by bacteria that has function such as protecting bacteria from environmental stress, immune cells, and antibiotics. This causes problems for diseases related to E. coli infection because the structure of E. coli biofilm makes it difficult for antibiotics to penetrate so that bacteria become resistant to antibiotics. Therefore, an alternative to antibiotics is needed, and one of the prospective alternatives is bacteriophage. Bacteriophages are known to have characteristics as an antibiofilm since it is not affected by the ability of bacterial resistance, has the ability to produce enzymes that degrade biofilm in the bacteria and able to infect persister cells or bacterial cells that are dormant. Moreover, bacteriophages are also known as natural predators of bacteria. The purpose of this article is to explore and explain the potential of bacteriophages as antibiofilm of Escherichia coli bacteria.