Recent advances to combat ESKAPE pathogens with special reference to essential oils

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Pharmacology
• Natural Product Chemistry

Background:

• Biofilm-associated bacteria, particularly ESKAPE pathogens, pose a significant global health threat.
• The diminishing pipeline of novel antibiotics necessitates exploring alternative therapeutic strategies.
• Nature-derived compounds show potential as effective treatments with fewer side effects and reduced resistance compared to synthetic drugs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review promising natural therapeutics for treating infections caused by ESKAPE pathogens in biofilms.
• To highlight the efficacy of various natural agents, including botanical drugs, essential oils (EOs), antimicrobial peptides, bacteriophages, and endolysins.
• To critically analyze the mechanisms of action, inhibitory concentrations, and in vivo efficacy of EOs and their components against ESKAPE pathogens.

Main Methods:

• Descriptive review of existing literature on natural compounds and their activity against ESKAPE pathogens.
• Analysis of studies focusing on botanical drugs, essential oils (EOs), antimicrobial peptides, bacteriophages, and endolysins.
• In-depth examination of essential oils and their components, including their mode of action (quorum sensing, biofilm disruption) and in vivo studies.

Main Results:

• Various natural agents, including EOs, demonstrate significant efficacy against ESKAPE pathogens in biofilms.
• Essential oils and their components interfere with quorum sensing, disrupt biofilm formation, and inhibit virulence factors.
• Studies show synergistic effects when combining natural agents with existing antibiotics.

Conclusions:

• Nature-derived compounds represent a viable and effective therapeutic avenue against challenging ESKAPE pathogen biofilms.
• Essential oils and their constituents offer multifaceted mechanisms to combat bacterial infections and overcome resistance.
• Further research into natural products, especially EOs, holds promise for developing novel strategies against multidrug-resistant bacteria.