Molecular Antibiotics, Current and Future Perspectives
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47489/szmc.v39i4.776Keywords:
Molecular Antibiotics, Antimicrobial Resistance, CRISPR-Cas, Nanotechnology, Drug DiscoveryAbstract
Background: The development of molecular antibiotics has revolutionized the treatment of infectious diseases because they offer specific mechanisms of action which reduce side effects and slow the growth of antibiotic resistance compared to standard broad-spectrum antibiotics. The precise binding of these antibiotics to bacterial structures enhances their therapeutic effects. The ongoing development of molecular antibiotics has not solved the problem of antimicrobial resistance, which demands that scientists develop new antibiotic strategies. The current research investigates molecular antibiotics through a systematic review and meta-analysis to understand their mechanisms of action, resistance patterns, and potential new treatment methods.
Methods: The current study followed PRISMA guidelines for its systematic search. The PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection, and Google Scholar electronic databases were searched. Specific search strategy was used. 67 papers were included for qualitative synthesis, and 34 eligible studies were included for quantitative synthesis. The studies were published between 2015 to 2025. The current research evaluated studies that met specific inclusion criteria to extract data on molecular antibiotic classes, their resistance mechanisms, clinical performance, and drug development innovations. The research team conducted statistical analyses to evaluate treatment effectiveness and drug resistance patterns over the last 10 years.
Results: The research demonstrates how molecular antibiotics have advanced through peptide-based treatments, CRISPR-Cas genome editing, and nanoparticle-based drug-delivery systems. Research studies demonstrate two main resistance mechanisms: efflux pumps and enzymes that break down new antibiotic compounds. The research indicates that AI-based drug development, when combined with combination therapy approaches, shows promise as a powerful tool to combat antibiotic resistance.
Conclusion: The review demonstrates that global cooperation among healthcare providers, researchers, and policymakers is necessary to develop new molecular antibiotics for clinical use. The combination of innovative therapeutic methods with strategic drug development approaches makes molecular antibiotics powerful tools to fight bacterial infections while ensuring long-term treatment success.
References
Moo CL, Yang SK, Yusoff K, Ajat M, Thomas W, Abushelaibi A, et al. Mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and alternative approaches to overcome AMR. Curr Drug Discov Technol. 2020;17(4):430-447. https://doi.org/10.2174/1570163816666190304122219
Halawa EM, Fadel M, Al-Rabia MW, Behairy A, Nouh NA, Abdo M, et al. Antibiotic action and resistance: updated review of mechanisms, spread, influencing factors, and alternative approaches for combating resistance. Front Pharmacol. 2024;14:1305294. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2023.1305294
Aijaz M, Ahmad M, Ansari MA, Ahmad S. Antimicrobial resistance in a globalized world: current challenges and future perspectives. Int J Pharm Drug Des. 2023;1(1):7-22. https://doi.org/10.62896/1wkwt966
Ahmed SK, Hussein S, Qurbani K, Ibrahim RH, Fareeq A, Mahmood KA, et al. Antimicrobial resistance: impacts, challenges, and future prospects. J Med Surg Public Health. 2024;2:100081. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.glmedi.2024.100081
Krishnaprasad VH, Kumar S. Antimicrobial resistance: an ultimate challenge for 21st-century scientists, healthcare professionals, and policymakers to save future generations. J Med Chem. 2024;67(18):15927-30. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c02002
Salam MA, Al-Amin MY, Salam MT, Pawar JS, Akhter N, Rabaan AA, et al. Antimicrobial resistance: a growing serious threat for global public health. Healthcare (Basel). 2023;11(13):1946. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11131946
Tang KW, Millar BC, Moore JE. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Br J Biomed Sci. 2023;80:11387. https://doi.org/10.3389/bjbs.2023.11387
Murugaiyan J, Kumar PA, Rao GS, Iskandar K, Hawser S, Hays JP, et al. Progress in alternative strategies to combat antimicrobial resistance: focus on antibiotics. Antibiotics (Basel). 2022;11(2):200. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics11020200
Singh G, Rana A, Smriti. Decoding antimicrobial resistance: unraveling molecular mechanisms and targeted strategies. Arch Microbiol. 2024;206(6):280. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-024-03998-2
Duan H, Yu L, Tian F, Zhai Q, Fan L, Chen W. Antibiotic-induced gut dysbiosis and barrier disruption and potential protective strategies. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2022;62(6):1427-52. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2020.1843396
Gupta D, Sachdeva E, Salman M, Kaur P. Topoisomerases as targets for halting bacterial DNA replication. In: Bacterial Enzymes as Targets for Drug Discovery. Academic Press; 2025. p.187-214. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-22222-1.00012-X
Drlica K, Zhao X. Bacterial death from treatment with fluoroquinolones and other lethal stressors. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther. 2021;19(5):601-18. https://doi.org/10.1080/14787210.2021.1840353
Baran A, Kwiatkowska A, Potocki L. Antibiotics and bacterial resistance—A short story of an endless arms race.
Int J Mol Sci. 2023;24(6):5777. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24065777
Brdová D, Ruml T, Viktorová J. Mechanism of staphylococcal resistance to clinically relevant antibiotics. Drug Resist Updat. 2024;101147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drup.2024.101147
Riu F, Ruda A, Ibba R, Sestito S, Lupinu I, Piras S, et al. Antibiotics and carbohydrate-containing drugs targeting bacterial cell envelopes: an overview. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2022;15(8):942. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph15080942
Yang W, Chen T, Zhou Q, Xu J. Resistance to linezolid in Staphylococcus aureus by mutation, modification, and acquisition of genes. J Antibiot (Tokyo). 2025;78(1):4-13. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41429-024-00778-4
Pleško S, Perše G, Todori? Z, Marekovi? I. Antimicrobial drugs. In: Drug Interactions in Gastroenterology: A Clinical Guide. Springer Nature Switzerland; 2025. p.93-133. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-69800-2_8
Martins A, Judák F, Farkas Z, Szili P, Grézal G, Csörg? B, et al. Antibiotic candidates for Gram-positive bacterial infections induce multidrug resistance. Sci Transl Med. 2025;17(780):eadl2103. https://doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.adl2103
Huang YS, Zhou H. Breakthrough advances in ?-lactamase inhibitors: new synthesized compounds and mechanisms of action against drug-resistant bacteria. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2025;18(2):206. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph18020206
McPherson JK, Hurdle JG, Baker ML, Hussain T, Kumar A, Garey KW. The microbiome-restorative potential of ibezapolstat for treatment of Clostridioides difficile infection is predicted through variant PolC-type DNA polymerase
III in Lachnospiraceae and Oscillospiraceae. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2025:e01679-24. https://doi.org/10.1128/aac.01679-24
Khairnar S, Das A, Oupicky D, Sadykov MR, Romanova S. Strategies to overcome antibiotic resistance: silver nanoparticles and vancomycin in pathogen eradication. RSC Pharmaceutics. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1039/D4PM00314D
Kumari A, Mathur G, Sharma G. Antimicrobial peptides in tuberculosis: insights into immunomodulatory mechanisms. Chem Biol Lett. 2025;12(1):1253. https://doi.org/10.62110/sciencein.cbl.2025.v12.1253
Zavaleta-Monestel E, Rojas-Chinchilla C, Campos-Hernández J, Martínez-Vargas E. Utility of artificial intelligence in antibiotic development: accelerating discovery in the age of resistance. Cureus. 2025;17(1). https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.78296
Ezeuko AS. Evaluation of functionalized silver and silica nanoparticles for removal of DNA conveying antibiotic- resistance genes from water. [dissertation]. University of Fort Hare; 2025.
Mayorga-Ramos A, Zúñiga-Miranda J, Carrera-Pacheco SE, Barba-Ostria C, Guamán LP. CRISPR-Cas-based antimicrobials: design, challenges, and bacterial mechanisms of resistance. ACS Infect Dis. 2023;9(7):1283-302. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsinfecdis.2c00649
Sultana A, Zare M, Thomas V, Kumar TS, Ramakrishna S. Nano-based drug delivery systems: conventional routes, recent developments and future prospects. Med Drug Discov. 2022;15:100134.doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.medidd.2022.100134
Sahu T, Ratre YK, Chauhan S, Bhaskar LV, Nair MP, Verma HK. Nanotechnology-based drug delivery system: current strategies and emerging therapeutic potential. J Drug Deliv Sci Technol. 2021;63:102487. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jddst.2021.102487
Anjum S, Ishaque S, Fatima H, Farooq W, Hano C, Abbasi BH, et al. Emerging applications of nanotechnology in healthcare systems: challenges and perspectives. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2021;14(8):707.doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/ph14080707
Gauba A, Rahman KM. Evaluation of antibiotic resistance mechanisms in Gram-negative bacteria. Antibiotics (Basel). 2023;12(11):1590.https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics12111590
Zhu X, Tang Q, Zhou X, Momeni MR. Antibiotic resistance and nanotechnology: a narrative review. Microb Pathog.
;106741.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micpath.2024.106741
Muteeb G, Rehman MT, Shahwan M, Aatif M. Origin of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance, and impacts on drug development: a narrative review. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2023;16(11):1615.doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/ph16111615
Laxminarayan R, Impalli I, Rangarajan R, Cohn J, Ramjeet K, Trainor BW, et al. Expanding antibiotic, vaccine, and diagnostics development and access to tackle antimicrobial resistance. Lancet. 2024;403(10443):2534-
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(24)00878-X
Pennisi F, Pinto A, Ricciardi GE, Signorelli C, Gianfredi V. The role of artificial intelligence and machine learning in antimicrobial stewardship. Antibiotics (Basel). 2025;14(2):134.doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics14020134
Tahmasebi H, Arjmand N, Monemi M, Babaeizad A, Alibabaei F, Alibabaei N, et al. From cure to crisis: understanding evolution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in human microbiota. Biomolecules. 2025;15(1):93.doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/biom15010093
Nabi IG, Khan M, Mubeen H. Antimicrobial resistance: challenges and innovative solutions. N Emirates Med J.
:e02506882352704.http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/0102506882352704250127093311
Allam H. Prescribing the future: role of artificial intelligence in pharmacy. Information.
;16(2):131.doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/info16020131
Yönden Z, Reshadi S, Hayati AF, Hooshiar MH, Ghasemi S, Yönden H, et al. AI-designed antibiotic targeting drug- resistant superbugs. Drug Dev Res. 2025;86(1):e70066.doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/ddr.70066
This work is licensed under a 