title: Antiadhesion agents against Gram-positive pathogens.
abstract: A fundamental step of Gram-positive pathogenesis is the bacterial adhesion to the host tissue involving interaction between bacterial surface molecules and host ligands. This review is focused on antivirulence compounds that target Gram-positive adhesins and on their potential development as therapeutic agents alternative or complementary to conventional antibiotics in the contrast of pathogens. In particular, compounds that target the sortase A, wall theicoic acid inhibitors, carbohydrates able to bind bacterial proteins and proteins capable of influencing the bacterial adhesion, were described. We further discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this strategy in the development of novel antimicrobials and the future perspective of this research field still at its first steps.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological, Chemical & Pharmaceutical Science & Technology (STEBICEF), Università degli Studi di Palermo, Via Archirafi 32, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Stella
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cascioferro
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Cusimano
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schillaci
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects*; D055808:Drug Discovery / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Gram-positive pathogens; antiadhesion agents; antivirulence drugs