ABSTRACT
Biofilms are complex biological systems formed by a structured community of microorganisms that adhere to a surface (biotic or abiotic) and are surrounded by a rigid structural matrix secreted by the microorganisms themselves. The implications of biofilms can vary in nature and magnitude, being considered harmful or beneficial, depending on the applied field. Biofilm formation can cause serious problems in the food industry, water quality, hospital environments, and human health. Postbiotics are biologically active microbial agents, produced by live bacteria or released after bacterial lysis. They are able to generate response for immunomodulating, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory effects, and they also stand out as promising tools in combating pathogenic biofilms. It is known that strains of lactic acid bacteria are capable of producing a variety of postbiotics with great potential for participation in the food, cosmetic, agricultural, pharmaceutical, and chemical fields. Postbiotics such as exopolysaccharides, enzymes, biosurfactants, and bacteriocins can act with different mechanisms of action in a variety of classes ranging from cardiovascular prevention and intestinal protection to increased efficacy of certain vaccines. The antibiofilm activity of postbiotics can occur in two ways, through the inhibition of biofilm formation or through the destruction of the already formed biofilm. The objective of this chapter is to bring new insight to the discussion of postbiotics application for combating pathogenic biofilms. However, there is an expectation that further studies will be carried out to gain knowledge about their safety and regulatory rules for their use, and establish a deeper information about their mechanism of action.
