Alternatives to overcoming bacterial resistances: state-of-the-art

Publication date: Available online 7 May 2016 Source:Microbiological Research Author(s): Alessandra C. Rios, Carla G. Moutinho, Flávio C. Pinto, Fernando S. Del Fiol, Angela Jozala, Marco V. Chaud, Marta M.D.C. Vila, José A. Teixeira, Victor M. Balcão Worldwide, bacterial resistance to chemical antibiotics has reached such a high level that endangers public health. Presently, the adoption of alternative strategies that promote the elimination of resistant microbial strains from the environment is of utmost importance. This review discusses and analyses several (potential) alternative strategies to current chemical antibiotics. Bacteriophage (or phage) therapy, although not new, makes use of strictly lytic phage particles as an alternative, or a complement, in the antimicrobial treatment of bacterial infections. It is being rediscovered as a safe method, because these biological entities devoid of any metabolic machinery do not possess any affinity whatsoever to eukaryotic cells. Lysin therapy is also recognized as an innovative antimicrobial therapeutic option, since the topical administration of preparations containing purified recombinant lysins with amounts in the order of nanograms, in infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria, demonstrated a high therapeutic potential by causing immediate lysis of the target bacterial cells. Additionally, this therapy exhibits the potential to act synergistically when combined with certain chemical antibiotics ...
Source: Microbiological Research - Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research