Anti-virulence Strategies to Combat Bacteria-mediated Disease

Overview

Journal Nat Rev Drug Discov

Specialty Pharmacology

Date 2010 Jan 19

PMID 20081869

Citations 586

Authors

David A Rasko

Vanessa Sperandio

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Antibiotic resistance is one of the greatest challenges of the twenty-first century. However, the increasing understanding of bacterial pathogenesis and intercellular communication has revealed many potential strategies to develop novel drugs to treat bacteria-mediated disease. Interference with bacterial virulence and/or cell-to-cell signalling pathways is an especially compelling approach, as it is thought to apply less selective pressure for the development of bacterial resistance than traditional strategies, which are aimed at killing bacteria or preventing their growth. Here, we discuss the mechanisms of bacterial virulence and present promising anti-virulence strategies and compounds for the future treatment of bacterial infections.

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