If you’ve ever felt dental plaque on your teeth, you’ve already encountered biofilms, and biofilms aren’t only found in the mouth. They can form throughout the body and are responsible for causing a broad range of chronic diseases. According to the NIH more than 80% of all microbial infections are biofilm related. These kinds of infections are hard to diagnose and treat.

Researchers have studied how certain enzymes, specifically protein-digesting enzymes (proteolytic enzymes), may help disrupt these barriers and support microbial balance.

What Are Biofilms?

Biofilm refers to the complex communities of microorganisms that form a sticky, slimy, protective matrix around them. These microorganisms include bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, algae, and disease-causing pathogens.

This sticky, slimy layer is known as the extracellular polymeric substance (ESP), and it acts like a shield so it can hide. The ESP is made up of:

• Polysaccharides (sugars): helps microbes stick together and anchor to surfaces.
• Proteins: give structure and stability to the biofilm.
• Nucleic acids (DNA and RNA): help with communication between pathogens.
• Lipids (fats): add another layer of protection.
• Channels in the biofilm allow for water, air, and nutrients to get to all parts of the structure.

This ESP matrix makes it very difficult for the immune system to find the pathogen, let alone fight it off and eliminate it from the body. When a pathogen hides in biofilm, it is much more resilient to antimicrobial and antibacterial herbs & pharmaceuticals, and therefore can survive when single, free-floating microbes might not.

In the body, biofilms can form in the gut, urinary tract, sinuses, and other areas. Once microbes are embedded in this structure, they are much harder to reach.

Why Biofilms Matter

Biofilms can make microorganisms up to 1,000 times more resistant to external stressors compared to free-floating microbes. This is why researchers are so interested in finding ways to break them down.

When biofilms form, they may interfere with the natural balance of the microbiome, making it more challenging for the body’s natural defenses or probiotics to function optimally.

The Role of Protein Enzymes

Proteolytic enzymes—also called protein-digesting enzymes—are compounds that help break down proteins into smaller peptides or amino acids. Examples include bromelain (from pineapple), papain (from papaya), serratiopeptidase, lumbrokinase, chymotrypsin, and nattokinase. This is why Nutri-Flow was created, containing these potent, well-researched enzymes in effective quantities. 

In laboratory studies, these enzymes have been shown to help disrupt biofilms by targeting the protein-based matrix that holds them together. By breaking down this structural “scaffolding,” enzymes may help expose the microbes within the biofilm, allowing for better microbial balance.

Biofilm-Related Health Concerns

Microbes in biofilms are linked to various health concerns, and due to the emergence of antibiotic resistance in bacteria it has really become difficult to treat them with efficacy. This is why enzyme treatment is being researched.

• cystic fibrosis (P. aeruginosa)
• dental plaque (Streptococcus sanguis, Streptococcus gordonii, Streptococcus oralis, Actinomyces)
• chronic wounds (P. aeruginosa)
• urinary tract infections (P. mirabilia)
• prosthetic joint infection
• cardiac valve infection (S. epidermidis, S. aureus, Corynebacterium spp. Streptococcus spp., Enterococcus spp. and Candida)
• bartonella (Bartonella henselae)
• lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi)

When a bacteria hides inside biofilm, this makes detection and diagnosis much harder.

Supporting Gut and Microbiome Health

Biofilms are of particular interest in the gut, where they may contribute to microbial imbalances. Disrupting biofilms through natural means, such as proteolytic enzymes, may create a more favorable environment for probiotics and other beneficial bacteria to thrive.

While much of the research is ongoing, the potential role of enzymes in supporting gut ecology and microbial balance continues to gain attention.

Practical Considerations

• Food vs. Systemic use: When taken with meals, proteolytic enzymes primarily assist with digestion. When taken on an empty stomach, they are able to have a more systemic effects.
• Pairing with probiotics: Some practitioners recommend combining biofilm-disrupting strategies with probiotics to help recolonize beneficial bacteria after biofilm disruption.
• Lifestyle factors: Hydration, fiber-rich foods, and balanced nutrition may also play a role in supporting the body’s natural defenses against biofilm formation.

Biofilms are a fascinating survival strategy for microbes, and breaking them down is a growing area of research. Proteolytic enzymes are a natural tool that may help disrupt these structures and support microbial balance in the body. Nutri-Flow is a potent enzyme blend. It will digest food if you take the enzymes with food, and if taken away from food, the enzymes will digest foreign proteins.

While science is still developing, the concept of biofilm management highlights just how complex and adaptable the microbial world really is.

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Nutri-Flow is a potent enzyme blend. It will digest food if you take the enzymes with food, and if taken away from food, the enzymes will digest foreign proteins.

References:

Roy R, Tiwari M, Donelli G, Tiwari V. Strategies for combating bacterial biofilms: A focus on anti-biofilm agents and their mechanisms of action. Virulence. 2018 Jan 1;9(1):522-554.

Rabin, N., Zheng, Y., Opoku-Temeng, C., Du, Y., Bonsu, E., & Sintim, H. O. (2015). Biofilm Formation Mechanisms and Targets for Developing Antibiofilm Agents. Future Medicinal Chemistry, 7(4), 493–512.

Hall MR , McGillicuddyE, KaplanLJ. Biofilm: basic principles, pathophysiology, and implications for clinicians. Surg. Infect. (Larchmt.)15 (1), 1–7 (2014). 

Tenke P, Kovacs B, Jäckel M, Nagy E. The role of biofilm infection in urology. World J Urol. 2006 Feb;24(1):13-20. doi: 10.1007/s00345-005-0050-2.