Secondary Metabolites from Bacillus spp. probiotics as potential treatments for multidrug-resistant pathogens: A comprehensive review

Abstract

The discovery of antibiotics is a significant medical breakthrough, saving millions of lives. However, the widespread misuse and overuse of antibiotics led to the development of antimicrobial resistance. Spore-forming probiotics from Bacillus spp. show great interest as antimicrobial agents through the production of strain-specific bioactive secondary metabolites. This review summarizes the broad-spectrum antimicrobial activities of Bacillus spp. secondary metabolite groups and their reported mechanisms of action, underscoring the urgency in developing novel antimicrobial drugs.