EXPLORATION OF TARGETS IN THE BACTERIAL MEMBRANE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW ANTIMICROBIAL THERAPIES

Abstract

The increasing dissemination of antimicrobial resistance represents one of the greatest threats to global public health, compromising the effectiveness of antibiotics traditionally used in the treatment of bacterial infections. A large proportion of the resistance mechanisms described is associated with alterations in specific intracellular targets, enzymatic inactivation of drugs, or reduction of intracellular drug concentration through active efflux. In this context, the bacterial membrane emerges as a highly promising therapeutic target, as it plays an essential role in cell viability, maintenance of homeostasis, and interaction with the external environment. Drugs that act directly on the membrane generally exhibit multifactorial and non-specific mechanisms of action, which significantly reduces the likelihood of bacterial resistance development. This narrative review aims to discuss the importance of the discovery and development of antimicrobial agents that target the bacterial membrane, addressing membrane structural aspects, mechanisms of action, examples of natural and synthetic compounds, therapeutic advantages, challenges, and future perspectives in combating antimicrobial resistance.