Towards new antibiotics classes targeting bacterial metallophores

The increasing bacterial resistance caused by antibiotic overuse has promoted the search for new antimicrobial strategies. Metals uptake via bacterial metallophores are studied to develop new therapeutics against infectious diseases, because metal ions are essential for bacterial growth and virulence. Metal ions assimilation is mainly dependent on metallophores production which are metal chelators synthetized and produced by bacteria to facilitate metals uptake and are vital for bacterial pathogenicity. Here we highlight the perspective for antimicrobial and therapeutic potential of metallophores through several approaches for metallophores application in antimicrobial therapy.

Automated summary

The increasing bacterial resistance caused by antibiotic overuse has led to the search for new antimicrobial strategies. Metallophores, which are metal chelators synthesized and produced by bacteria to facilitate metal uptake, are studied for their potential in developing new therapeutics against infectious diseases. This article highlights the perspectives and approaches for the application of metallophores in antimicrobial therapy.