Antibody

Chemistry

Ecology

Mimicry

Enzyme

Microbiology

Bacteria

Biology

Genetics

Molecular mimicry

Biochemistry

Biofilm

Accounts of Chemical Research

ConspectusBacterial infection continues to be a growing global health problem with the most widely accepted treatment paradigms restricted to antibiotics. However, antibiotics overuse and misuse have triggered increased multidrug resistance, frustrating the therapeutic outcomes and leading to higher mortalities. Even worse, the tendency of bacteria to form biofilms on living and nonliving surfaces further increases the difficulty in confronting bacteria because the extracellular matrix can act as a robust barrier to prevent the penetration of antibiotics and resist environmental stress. As a result, the inability to completely eliminate bacteria and biofilms often leads to persistent infection, implant failure, and device damage. Therefore, it is of paramount importance to develop alternative antimicrobial agents while avoiding the generation of bacterial resistance. Taking lessons from natural enzymes for destroying cellular structural integrity or interfering with metabolisms such as proliferation, quorum s...

Enzyme Mimicry for Combating Bacteria and Biofilms