Aspartic acid, cysteine, and glutamic acid prevent biofilm formation and disrupt mature biofilms of Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus

Current therapeutics primarily target planktonic cells and are often ineffective against biofilms, highlighting the need for biofilm-specific strategies. Here, we investigated non-toxic L-amino acids as antibiofilm agents against Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus.

Administration of aspartic acid, cysteine, and glutamic acid inhibited biofilm formation and disrupted mature biofilms in both single- and dual-species settings. Moreover, these amino acids acted synergistically with fluconazole to enhance activity against C. albicans biofilms. These findings indicate that targeted amino acid administration, alone or in combination with existing antimicrobials, could provide a novel strategy for preventing and treating biofilm-associated infections.