Redirecting the host immune response to bacterial infection with antibody-recruiting molecules (ARMs)

The increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistance, the stagnation of antibiotic development, and the adaptive capacity of bacteria to subvert the host immune response combine to pose significant global health concerns. Consequently, there is an urgent need to develop alternative therapeutic approaches to combat bacterial infections. Antibody-recruiting molecules (ARMs), which are bispecific small molecules that recruit endogenous antibodies to pathogenic cells or viruses, offer a promising avenue to harness the host immune system to target various diseases. In this review, we cover ARM strategies that have been developed for bacterial pathogens, including Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, and mycobacteria, and we discuss the prospects and challenges of utilizing ARMs as alternatives to traditional antibiotic therapies.