Antimicrobials from endophytes as novel therapeutics to counter drug-resistant pathogens

Abstract

The rapid increase in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) projects a “global emergency” and necessitates a need to discover alternative resources for combating drug-resistant pathogens or “superbugs.” One of the key themes in “One Health Concept” is based on the fact that the interconnected network of humans, the environment, and animal habitats majorly contribute to the rapid selection and spread of AMR. Moreover, the injudicious and overuse of antibiotics in healthcare, the environment, and associated disciplines, further aggravates the concern. The prevalence and persistence of AMR contribute to the global economic burden and are constantly witnessing an upsurge due to fewer therapeutic options, rising mortality statistics, and expensive healthcare. The present decade has witnessed the extensive exploration and utilization of bio-based resources in harnessing antibiotics of potential efficacies. The discovery and characterization of diverse chemical entities from endophytes as potent antimicrobials define an important yet less-explored area in natural product-mediated drug discovery. Endophytes-produced antimicrobials show potent efficacies in targeting microbial pathogens and synthetic biology (SB) mediated engineering of endophytes for yield enhancement, forms a prospective area of research. In keeping with the urgent requirements for new/novel antibiotics and growing concerns about pathogenic microbes and AMR, this paper comprehensively reviews emerging trends, prospects, and challenges of antimicrobials from endophytes and their effective production via SB. This literature review would serve as the platform for further exploration of novel bioactive entities from biological organisms as “novel therapeutics” to address AMR.

Keywords:

• Antimicrobial resistance
• drug transporters
• endophytes
• microbial pathogens
• quorum sensing inhibitors (QSIs)
• synthetic biology

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge their respective organizations for encouragement and support. Pragya Tiwari acknowledges Yeungnam University, the Republic of Korea for International Research Professor Funding. Laurent Dufossé deeply thanks the Conseil Régional de Bretagne, France, and the Conseil Régional de La Réunion, Réunion island, Indian Ocean, for continuous financial support of research activities dedicated to microbial biotechnology.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interests was declared with any individual or organization.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.