Recent Developments in the Inhibition of Bacterial Adhesion as Promising Anti-Virulence Strategy

Abstract

Infectious diseases caused by antimicrobial-resistant strains have become a serious threat to global health, with a high social and economic impact. Multi-resistant bacteria exhibit various mechanisms at both the cellular and microbial community levels. Among the different strategies proposed to fight antibiotic resistance, we reckon that the inhibition of bacterial adhesion to host surfaces represents one of the most valid approaches, since it hampers bacterial virulence without affecting cell viability. Many different structures and biomolecules involved in the adhesion of Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens can be considered valuable targets for the development of promising tools to enrich our arsenal against pathogens.