Abstract

Plant lectins has the ability to interfere in crucial biofilm formation aspects, playing a significant role in evaluation of patients at high and low risk of disease development. However, there is limited studies on the physiological role of lectins on bacteria living in biofilms like caries process. Thus, we aimed to provide a view of lectins biotechnological potential against bacterial biofilms development. Biofilm is a structured bacterial consortium that provides essential compounds for its survivor. This microorganism organization occurs naturally, since this arrangement increases its survival possibility. Bacterial biofilms are related to human health problems and are responsible for many infectious diseases, such as oral diseases, associated with inert surfaces, including medical devices for internal and external use. Thus, lectins are a large group of heterogeneous proteins that exhibit antibacterial activity, as well as ability to interfere with microbial biofilms formation process. The lectins ability to form complexes with microbial glycoconjugates has stimulated its application as probes to the whole cell, as well as its mutants and numerous cellular constituents and metabolites. Thus, the impact of bacterial resistance provided by biofilm formation on human health encourages researches aiming to understand biofilm mechanisms as well as strategies to eradicate or minimize these communities damages.

Key words: Lectins, biofilm, bacterial resistance.