High-throughput screening for compounds that modulate the cellular c-di-GMP level in bacteria

Bacteria in the biofilm mode of growth cause numerous problematic infections due to their resistance to antimicrobials and the immune system. Because conventional antimicrobial compounds cannot efficiently eradicate biofilm infections, we urgently need new efficient anti-biofilm drugs. The secondary messenger c-di-GMP is a positive regulator of biofilm formation in many clinically relevant bacteria, and it is assumed that drugs that lower the intracellular level of c-di-GMP will force biofilm bacteria into a more treatable planktonic lifestyle. We describe a protocol for high-throughput screening of chemical libraries for compounds that lower the c-di-GMP level in bacteria, and potentially can serve as lead compounds in the development of novel biofilm dismantling drugs.