Functional foods and strategies contrasting bacterial adhesion

Antibacterial strategies targeting bacterial adhesion to substrates are considered a valuable alternative to traditional antibiotic therapy, in view of the great advantage they bring in combating the infectious process at the very early stage without selecting for drug resistant cells. Amongst bioactive compounds with activity against bacterial adhesion, several are found in natural food and beverages, such as cranberry, tea, coffee, wine and milk. For the analysis of their anti-infective potential, successful experimental models can be conducted using different substrates from the oral cavity. Studies conducted so far in this field allowed the discovery of a variety of anti-adhesive fractions and compounds proven to be effective against bacterial traits involved in the development of oral pathologies such as caries and gingivitis/periodontitis. Discovering new anti-adhesive compounds from natural products, unravelling and testing their prophylactic and therapeutic values, and improving their use in the general population are promising new frontiers in the global fight against human infectious diseases.

► Bacterial genetically determined and non-inherited antibiotic resistance represent a serious public health concern also having economic and social implications.
► Anti-adhesive strategies are valuable alternatives to antimicrobial therapy.
► Natural food and beverages are a source of biologically active anti-adhesive compounds.
► Successful experimental models are conducted using substrates from the oral cavity.
► Natural compounds that work against oral pathogens open the way to new perspectives in the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases.