Posted 5/17/2022 11:16 AM (GMT 0)
there is a great deal of research showing biofilms form a part of the arsenal of persistence mechanisms used in chronic infections.
in particular
-Lyme disease is well demonstrated to produce biofilms - eg autopsy via histology - immuno-fluorescence etc
-bartonella is known to trigger dramatic fibrin deposits forming similar function - but the jury is still lout on whether it forms true biofilms
-babesia - similar to bartonella - known to trigger and inhabit fibrin deposits in the cardiovascular system
in fact most bacteria on the planet are thought to be capable of forming biofilms - estimates range from 60-90% of species.
in addition all biofilms in nature are in fact mixed biofilm communities - where multiple bacterial - or even fungal and protozoan organisms cohabit the biofilm and may benefit from it even if they themselves do not produce it
there are studies showing the use of biofilm agents are helpful in treating several human infections
eg - recurrent middle ear infections in children
but none to my knowledge focussing on biofilm agents in lyme disease - mainly for the same reason we have so few treatment trials in general - they are expensive to perform and generate no revenue - as these are typically freely available substances categorised as dietary supplements
there are also many different biofilm agents - that each act via different mechanisms
from
--proteolytic enzymes for dissolving fibrin deposits and extracellular matrixes ( bromelain, lumbrokinase, serrapeptase, papain etc)
---to metal chelators for stripping metal ions from biofilms ( EDTA, Disulfiram i think)
--to sugar alcohols for weakening the structure of biofilms ( Xylitol, stevia, other sugar alcohols )
its a topic we have discussed here before at some lengths - so well worth a search using the search function
GSE is as far as know used mainly as an anti-cyst agent for lyme disease - but my research on it provided a rather variable picture of its effectiveness