Repurposing benzophenone-2 as an antibiofilm agent against pyelonephritic uropathogenic Escherichia coli

This study reports the repurposing of benzophenone-2 (BP-2), a widely used cosmetic UV filter, as a potent antibiofilm agent against uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). BP-2 effectively inhibits biofilm formation and disrupts established biofilms at sub-inhibitory concentrations without compromising bacterial growth or viability. The compound suppresses key virulence traits including motility, rugosity, and curli biogenesis, likely through inhibition of the curli master regulator CsgD. Supported by molecular docking, 3D-QSAR, and toxicity profiling, BP-2 emerges as a promising antivirulence candidate for managing biofilm-associated UPEC infections.