title: Bacterial surface appendages as targets for novel antibacterial therapeutics.
abstract: The rise of multidrug resistant bacteria is a major worldwide health concern. There is currently an unmet need for the development of new and selective antibacterial drugs. Therapies that target and disarm the crucial virulence factors of pathogenic bacteria, while not actually killing the cells themselves, could prove to be vital for the treatment of numerous diseases. This article discusses the main surface architectures of pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria and the small molecules that have been discovered, which target their specific biogenesis pathways and/or actively block their virulence. The future perspective for the use of antivirulence compounds is also assessed.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Structural & Molecular Biology, Birkbeck & University College London, Malet Street, London, WC1E 7HX, UK.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Steadman
authors.forename: Alvin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Waksman
authors.forename: Han
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Remaut
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D022081:Cell Surface Extensions / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: antibacterial; antibiotic; antibiotic resistance; antivirulence; curli; pili; pilicides