This systematic review comprehensively analyzes natural antibiotics derived from animals, bacteria, fungi, and plants, covering their mechanisms of action, antimicrobial efficacy, and safety, emphasizing their potential in combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The article also summarizes the latest research advances in delivery systems, combination therapies, and interventions in resistance mechanisms of natural antibiotics.
Literature Overview
This article, titled 'Mechanisms, Efficacy, and Safety of Natural Antibiotics' and published in the journal 'Antibiotics', systematically reviews and summarizes the sources, mechanisms of action, delivery methods, and application prospects of natural antibiotics in antimicrobial therapy. It highlights that natural antibiotics exhibit lower risk of resistance development compared to traditional antibiotics due to their multi-target mechanisms of action, such as disrupting cell walls, inhibiting protein synthesis, and interfering with biofilm formation. Furthermore, the article emphasizes the integration of natural antibiotics with modern scientific techniques, such as nanoparticle encapsulation, CRISPR gene editing-assisted screening, and omics-driven discovery, which enhance their bioavailability and therapeutic effectiveness.
Background Knowledge
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become a global public health crisis, increasing the risk of millions of deaths annually. Natural antibiotics, due to their multi-target characteristics, can overcome the resistance issues commonly associated with single-target antibiotics. Traditional antibiotics such as beta-lactams and glycopeptides have单一 mechanisms of action and are rapidly adapted to by bacteria through gene mutations or horizontal gene transfer. In contrast, natural antibiotics act simultaneously on multiple bacterial pathways (such as cell membrane, cell wall, protein synthesis, biofilm formation), thereby slowing the development of resistance. However, natural antibiotics face limitations in clinical translation due to poor in vitro stability, low bioavailability, and high toxicity risks. Thus, optimizing their pharmacokinetics and delivery systems through modern biotechnology has become a current research hotspot. This article systematically reviews the scientific basis and application potential of natural antibiotics in combating AMR from the perspectives of natural sources, mechanisms of action, resistance development pathways, delivery system optimization, and combination therapy strategies.
Research Methods and Experiments
This review summarizes the source classification, mechanisms of action, and delivery system optimization strategies of natural antibiotics. The researchers systematically evaluated the multi-target antimicrobial efficacy of natural antibiotics and analyzed their application performance in preclinical models through literature review, mechanistic analysis, and experimental data integration. Additionally, the article outlines various modern techniques, such as gene editing, omics-driven screening, and nanoparticle encapsulation, that can enhance the stability and bioavailability of natural antibiotics.
Key Conclusions and Perspectives
Research Significance and Prospects
Natural antibiotics represent a crucial resource in combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR), offering new insights for future antimicrobial drug design through their multi-target mechanisms. Integration with modern biotechnology, including CRISPR-assisted screening, omics-driven discovery, and AI-based prediction, is expected to accelerate their development and optimization for clinical applications. Future research should focus more on pharmacokinetics, toxicity control, and standardized extraction and synthesis pathways to ensure sustainable applications in both clinical and agricultural settings.
Conclusion
This article systematically summarizes the sources, mechanisms, and safety profiles of natural antibiotics, highlighting their potential in combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Due to their multi-target mechanisms, natural antibiotics demonstrate superior resistance prevention capabilities compared to traditional antibiotics. However, challenges in standardization, stability, and clinical translation must still be overcome. Future research should focus on integrating natural antibiotics with modern biotechnology, such as nanoparticle delivery, gene editing-assisted screening, and omics technology-driven production optimization, to enhance their clinical applicability. Additionally, as combination agents rather than standalone alternatives, natural antibiotics are more likely to play a key role in AMR control. The article calls for further integration of traditional knowledge with modern science to establish natural antibiotics as a critical component of global AMR control strategies.
