Viral Biofilm:

Viral biofilms as a new discovery and emerging concept in virology that proves biofilms can exist outside the domain of bacteria and fungi. The biofilm structures enable viral persistence and transmission through their extracellular substance which protects viral particles from immune recognition. Viral biofilms produce more efficient cell-to-cell transmission which makes them better protected from immune system responses and antiviral medications. Several human viruses such as HIV, Human T-Lymphotropic Virus Type 1 (HTLV-1) along with measles virus and poxviruses develop biofilm-like characteristics by producing virus-carrying structures on infected cells. The structures contain viral particles together with fibronectin along with heparan sulfate from extracellular matrix components and they integrate integrins as well as extracellular vesicles. The immune system fails to recognize viral biofilms due to antibody shielding which results in virus isolate while direct cell-to-cell transmission expands viral spread and leads to chronic infections seen mostly with HIV and HTLV-1. Viral resistance to antiviral treatments becomes more challenging because of this phenomenon. Specific approaches targeting viral biofilms about disrupting matrix components should be combined with blocking cell-to-cell viral spread and developing biofilm-specific antivirals to create new treatment possibilities for persistent viral infections. 

Researchers must understand viral biofilms because their pathogenic characteristics require knowledge for building new therapeutic methods for persistent viral diseases.