Targeting Bacterial Membrane Function: an Underexploited Mechanism for Treating Persistent Infections

Overview

Journal Nat Rev Microbiol

Specialties Infectious Diseases
Microbiology

Date 2010 Dec 18

PMID 21164535

Citations 298

Authors

Julian G Hurdle

Alex J ONeill

Ian Chopra

Richard E Lee

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Persistent infections involving slow-growing or non-growing bacteria are hard to treat with antibiotics that target biosynthetic processes in growing cells. Consequently, there is a need for antimicrobials that can treat infections containing dormant bacteria. In this Review, we discuss the emerging concept that disrupting the bacterial membrane bilayer or proteins that are integral to membrane function (including membrane potential and energy metabolism) in dormant bacteria is a strategy for treating persistent infections. The clinical applicability of these approaches is exemplified by the efficacy of lipoglycopeptides that damage bacterial membranes and of the diarylquinoline TMC207, which inhibits membrane-bound ATP synthase. Despite some drawbacks, membrane-active agents form an important new means of eradicating recalcitrant, non-growing bacteria.

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