 Biofilms are three-dimensional structures formed by bacteria when they attach to surfaces or other materials. They are often found in chronic infections and can be difficult to treat due to their ability to resist antibiotics. In this study, researchers examined how different levels of stiffness in the extracellular matrix, ECM, affects the antibiotic resistance of bacterial biofilms. They found that increasing the stiffness of the ECM increased the resistance of the biofilm to antibiotics. This was due to the biofilm being able to use more energy to produce more metabolites, such as fumarate, which helped them survive. Fumarate also helps the bacteria to better utilize the available nutrients in the environment. By using fumarate as an adjunct therapy, the researchers were able to reduce the resistance of the biofilm to antibiotics and improve treatment outcomes. This article was authored by Yiming Han, Nian Jiang, Hong Wei Su, and others.