Drug Repurposing for Antimicrobial Discovery and Development

Résumé fourni par la source

The global increase in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has intensified the search for innovative therapeutic strategies such as drug repurposing. Drug repurposing involves finding new uses for existing drugs that have already been approved, tested in clinical settings, or previously discarded due to ineffectiveness in their initial indications. Several chapters have increasingly focused on studies examining the repurposing of existing antibiotics; therefore, a critical gap remains in exploring natural metabolites with known or potential therapeutic properties. Despite their extensive pharmacological diversity, repurposed plant-derived secondary metabolites have lacked systematic evaluation as antimicrobial agents and remain underrepresented in current research. This chapter presents the therapeutic potential of both repurposed FDA-approved drugs and natural metabolites in targeting bacteria across various growth phases, including exponential, stationary, and biofilm-associated states. It also highlights the overlooked niche—natural metabolite libraries and their incorporation into repurposing pipelines. By drawing on recent studies demonstrating the antimicrobial efficacy of terpenoids, alkaloids, flavonoids, and other bioactive compounds, we propose a framework for repositioning these natural molecules as a promising approach for antimicrobial development. This framework emphasizes recent trends, notable success stories, and prospects in the field.

Ce résumé expose les affirmations des auteurs. BNTIC ne l’interprète pas comme une validation indépendante des résultats.