Sains Malaysiana 55(5)(2026): 889-897

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2026-5505-11

 

Exploring the Anti-biofilm Metabolites from Actinomycetes Through Metabolomics Tool

(Meneroka Metabolit Anti-biofilem daripada Actinomycetes Melalui Alat Metabolomik)

 

NUR SAKINAH MOHD NONG¹, SITI JUNAIDAH AHMAD^1,*, NURUL ALIA AZIZAN¹, NORAZIAH MOHAMMAD ZIN², NOOR WINI MAZLAN³ & RUANGELIE EDRADA-EBEL⁴

 

¹Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA), Gong Badak Campus, 21300 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia

²Programme of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

³Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia

⁴Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, The John Arbuthnott Building, 161 Cathedral Street, Glasgow G4 0RE, United Kingdom

 

Diserahkan: 4 Julai 2025/Diterima: 7 Mei 2026

 

Abstract

Biofilms, which are robust microbial populations enclosed in self-produced extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) matrices, are a major source of concern in the healthcare, industry, and environmental sectors because they are resistant to conventional therapies. It is essential for individuals to increase their awareness of antibiotic-resistant strains in relation to oral biofilm-associated diseases, such as periodontitis and gingivitis. Actinomycetes, particularly Streptomyces species, are prolific makers of secondary metabolites, which is a natural products and have strong antibiofilm characteristics. This antibiofilm compound causes fewer negative effects than synthetic medications. Advances in metabolomics tools, including liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, have significantly expedited the identification and characterisation of novel bioactive compounds. However, limitations such as poor metabolite yields, scalability concerns, and regulatory restrictions prevent their widespread use. Screening Actinomycetes from diverse environments is key to identifying antibiofilm metabolites, with co-culture systems and high-throughput screening accelerating the discovery of novel compounds. This scoping review paper focuses on current breakthroughs, applications, and limits in using Actinomycetes and metabolomics tools to discover novel antibiofilm agents. Understanding the mechanisms of antibiofilm action is critical for designing treatment methods, and Actinomycetes-derived metabolites provide interesting options for combating biofilm-associated infections in medical and industrial settings. Future studies will concentrate on optimising the production of these metabolites, assessing their complete range of biological functions, and increasing their therapeutic effectiveness.

Keywords: Antibiofilm metabolite; extracellular polymeric substances; metabolomics; oral pathogens

 

Abstrak

Biofilem yang merupakan populasi mikrob kukuh yang tertutup dalam matriks bahan polimer ekstrasel (EPS) yang dihasilkan sendiri, merupakan sumber kebimbangan utama dalam sektor penjagaan kesihatan, industri dan alam sekitar kerana ketahanannya terhadap terapi konvensional. Adalah penting bagi individu untuk meningkatkan kesedaran terhadap strain tahan antibiotik yang berkaitan dengan penyakit yang berpunca daripada biofilem oral, seperti periodontitis dan gingivitis. Actinomycetes, khususnya spesies Streptomyces adalah pengeluar utama metabolit sekunder yang merupakan produk semula jadi dan mempunyai ciri antibiofilem yang kuat. Sebatian antibiofilem ini menghasilkan kesan sampingan yang lebih sedikit berbanding ubat sintetik. Kemajuan dalam alat metabolomik seperti kromatografi cecair-spektrometri jisim (LC-MS) dan spektroskopi resonans magnet nuklear (NMR) telah mempercepatkan dengan ketara proses pengecaman dan pencirian sebatian bioaktif baharu. Namun, terdapat beberapa kekangan seperti hasil metabolit yang rendah, isu skalabiliti dan sekatan peraturan yang menghalang penggunaannya secara meluas. Saringan Actinomycetes daripada pelbagai persekitaran adalah kunci dalam mengenal pasti metabolit antibiofilem, dengan sistem kokultur dan teknik saringan berkelajuan tinggi mempercepatkan penemuan sebatian baharu. Makalah ulasan skop ini menumpukan kepada kemajuan semasa, aplikasi dan batasan dalam penggunaan Actinomycetes serta alat metabolomik bagi penemuan agen antibiofilem baharu. Memahami mekanisme tindakan antibiofilem adalah kritikal untuk merangka strategi rawatan dan metabolit yang diperoleh daripada Actinomycetes menawarkan pilihan yang menarik dalam menangani jangkitan berkaitan biofilem dalam bidang perubatan dan industri. Kajian masa hadapan akan memberi tumpuan kepada pengoptimuman penghasilan metabolit ini, penilaian terhadap keseluruhan fungsi biologinya serta peningkatan keberkesanan terapeutiknya.

Kata kunci: Bahan polimer ekstrasel; metabolit antibiofilem; metabolomik; patogen oral

 

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*Pengarang untuk surat-menyurat; email: junaidahahmad@unisza.edu.my