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Research progress on the synergistic effect and its mechanisms of antidepressants and antibiotics against resistant

Lihong Ding1, Xia Chen1, Yanli Lv1

  • 1School of Public Health, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, 730000, China.

Archives of Microbiology
|May 29, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Antidepressants show potential as novel antimicrobial adjuvants, enhancing antibiotic efficacy against resistant bacteria. Further research is needed to explore their clinical application in combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global health threat requiring new therapeutic approaches.
  • Antidepressants, known for treating major depressive disorders (MDD), exhibit diverse non-antibiotic properties, including antimicrobial activity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the potential of antidepressants as adjuncts to conventional antibiotics against drug-resistant pathogens.
  • To explore the synergistic antimicrobial effects of antidepressants and antibiotics.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on antidepressant pharmacological properties and antimicrobial activities.
  • Analysis of studies demonstrating synergistic effects between selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), and conventional antibiotics.

Main Results:

  • SSRIs and TCAs showed synergistic antimicrobial effects, reducing minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) against resistant bacteria.
  • Mechanisms include inhibition of bacterial efflux pumps and disruption of bacterial membrane integrity.

Conclusions:

  • Antidepressants demonstrate significant potential as adjuvants in combination therapy against resistant bacteria.
  • Further in vivo and translational research is crucial to overcome challenges for clinical application.
Keywords:
Antibiotic adjuvantAntibioticsAntidepressantsDrug-resistant pathogensSynergy mechanisms

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