Polypharmacological strategies for infectious bacteria.

Abstract

Polypharmacological approaches have significant potential for the treatment of various complex diseases, including infectious bacteria-related diseases. Actually, multitargeting agents can achieve better therapeutic effects and overcome the drawbacks of monotherapy. Although multidrug multitarget strategies have demonstrated the ability to inactivate infectious bacteria, several challenges have been pointed out. In this way, multitarget direct ligands approaches appear to be a rational and sustainable strategy to combat antibiotic resistance. By combining different pharmacophores, antibiotic hybrids stand out as a promising application in the field of bacterial infections. These new chemical entities can achieve synergistic interactions that allow to extend the spectrum of action and target multiple pathways. In addition, antibiotic hybrids can reduce the likelihood of resistance development and provide improved chemical stability. It is worth highlighting that despite the efforts of the scientific community to discover new solutions for the most complex diseases, there is a significant lack of studies on biofilm-associated infections. This review describes the different polypharmacological approaches that can be used to treat bacterial infections with a particular focus, whenever possible, on those promoted by biofilms. By exploring these innovative approaches, we aim to inspire further research and progress in the search for effective treatments for infectious bacteria-related diseases, including biofilm-related ones. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: The importance of the proposed topic lies in the escalating challenge of antibiotic resistance, particularly in the context of infectious bacteria-related infections. Polypharmacological approaches, such as antibiotic hybrids, represent innovative strategies to combat bacterial infections. By targeting multiple signaling pathways, these approaches not only enhance therapeutic effect but also reduce the development of resistance while improving the drug's chemical stability. Despite the urgent need to combat bacterial infectious diseases, there is a notable research gap, in particular in biofilm-related ones. This review highlights the critical importance of exploring polypharmacological approaches with the aim of motivating further research and advances in effective treatments for infectious bacteria, including biofilm related infections.