Targeted Antimicrobial Agents as Potential Tools for Modulating the Gut Microbiome

The gut microbiome plays a pivotal role in maintaining the health of the hosts; however, there is accumulating evidence that certain bacteria in the host, termed pathobionts, play roles in the progression of diseases. Although antibiotics can be used to eradicate unwanted bacteria, the side effects of antibiotic treatment lead to a great need for more targeted antimicrobial agents as tools to modulate the microbiome more precisely. Herein, we reviewed narrow-spectrum antibiotics naturally made by plants and microorganisms, followed by more targeted antibiotic agents including synthetic peptides, phage, and targeted drug delivery systems, from the perspective of using them as potential tools for modulating the gut microbiome for favorable effects on the health of the host. Given the emerging discoveries on pathobionts and the increasing knowledge on targeted antimicrobial agents reviewed in this article, we anticipate targeted antimicrobial agents will emerge as a new generation of a drug to treat microbiome-involved diseases.