Selected strategies to fight pathogenic bacteria

Natural products and analogues are a source of antibacterial drug discovery. Considering drug resistance levels emerging for antibiotics, identification of bacterial metalloenzymes and the synthesis of selective inhibitors are interesting for antibacterial agent development. Peptide nucleic acids are attractive antisense and antigene agents representing a novel strategy to target pathogens due to their unique mechanism of action. Antisense inhibition and development of antisense peptide nucleic acids is a new approach to antibacterial agents. Due to the increased resistance of biofilms to antibiotics, alternative therapeutic options are necessary. To develop antimicrobial strategies, optimised in vitro and in vivo models are needed. In vivo models to study biofilm-related respiratory infections, device-related infections: ventilator-associated pneumonia, tissue-related infections: chronic infection models based on alginate or agar beads, methods to battle biofilm-related infections are discussed. Drug delivery in case of antibacterials often is a serious issue therefore this review includes overview of drug delivery nanosystems.

Automated summary

Natural products and analogues are valuable sources for the discovery of antibacterial drugs. The identification of bacterial metalloenzymes and the synthesis of selective inhibitors are interesting for the development of antibacterial agents due to increasing drug resistance. Peptide nucleic acids represent a novel strategy for targeting pathogens through antisense inhibition and development of antisense peptide nucleic acids. The review also discusses alternative therapeutic options and optimized in vitro and in vivo models for studying biofilm-related infections along with an overview of drug delivery nanosystems.