Bioengineered materials with selective antimicrobial toxicity in biomedicine

Pooyan Makvandi1,2, Hao Song3, Cynthia K Y Yiu4

  • 1The Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Quzhou People's Hospital, Quzhou, 324000, Zhejiang, China. pooyanmakvandi@gmail.com.

Military Medical Research
|February 24, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Novel antimicrobials selectively target pathogenic bacteria and fungi, unlike broad-spectrum agents. This review explores cell wall features, antimicrobial mechanisms, and immunomodulation for specific microbial infection treatments.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Drug Discovery

Background:

  • Microbial infections caused by fungi and bacteria pose significant health challenges.
  • Current broad-spectrum antimicrobials lack specificity, affecting both pathogenic and commensal microorganisms.
  • There is a critical need for targeted antimicrobial strategies to combat specific microbial pathogens.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review novel antimicrobials with selective targeting capabilities against specific bacteria and fungi.
  • To highlight the cell wall features and antimicrobial mechanisms of targeted microorganisms.
  • To discuss recent advances in antimicrobial immunomodulation for highly specific infection treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Review of scientific literature on selective antimicrobial agents.
  • Analysis of microbial cell wall structures and their role in antimicrobial targeting.
  • Examination of antimicrobial mechanisms of action against specific microbial communities (Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, fungi).
  • Evaluation of immunomodulation strategies for targeted antimicrobial therapy.

Main Results:

  • Identification of novel antimicrobial compounds and strategies with high specificity for pathogenic microbes.
  • Understanding of key cell wall differences enabling selective targeting of bacteria and fungi.
  • Insights into advanced immunomodulation techniques for precise treatment of microbial infections.
  • Foundation for designing next-generation antibacterial and antifungal agents.

Conclusions:

  • Selective antimicrobial agents offer a promising alternative to broad-spectrum treatments.
  • Targeting specific microbial cell wall features and mechanisms is key to developing novel antimicrobials.
  • Antimicrobial immunomodulation represents a cutting-edge strategy for highly specific infection control.
  • This review provides a framework for future research and development in targeted antibacterial and antifungal applications.

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