Drug repurposing as an alternative for the treatment of recalcitrant bacterial infections.
Bacterial infection remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and the options for treating such infections are decreasing, due the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The pharmaceutical industry has produced few new types of antibiotics in more than a decade. Researchers are taking several approaches toward developing new classes of antibiotics, including (1) focusing on new targets and processes, such as bacterial cell-cell communication that upregulates virulence; (2) designing inhibitors of bacterial resistance, such as blockers of multidrug eﬄux pumps; and (3) using alternative antimicrobials such as bacteriophages. In addition, the strategy of finding new uses for existing drugs is beginning to produce results: antibacterial properties have been discovered for existing anticancer, antifungal, anthelmintic, and anti-inflammatory drugs. In this review, we discuss the antimicrobial properties of gallium compounds, 5-fluorouracil, ciclopirox, diflunisal, and some other FDA-approved drugs and argue that their repurposing for the treatment of bacterial infections, including those that are multidrug resistant, is a feasible strategy.
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Mexico City, Mexico.
Adrián
A
Rangel-Vega
Terrametrix, CA USA.
Lawrence R
LR
Bernstein
Epigenetics of Cancer Laboratory, Division of Basic Research, National Institute of Genomic Medicine Mexico City, Mexico.
Edna Ayerim
EA
Mandujano-Tinoco
Centro Médico Coyoacán, Mexico City Mexico.
Silvia Julieta
SJ
García-Contreras
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Mexico City, Mexico.
Rodolfo
R
García-Contreras
5-fluorouracil; bacterial infections; ciclopirox; diflunisal; drug repurposing; gallium