Gene

Biotechnology

Biology

Antimicrobial

CRISPR

Antimicrobial peptides

Antibiotic resistance

Lysin

Computational biology

Bacteriophage

Genetics

Antibiotics

Microbiology

Escherichia coli

Synthetic biology

Trends in Microbiology

As more antibiotics are rendered ineffective by drug-resistant bacteria, focus must be shifted towards alternative therapies for treating infections. Although several alternatives already exist in nature, the challenge is to implement them in clinical use. Advancements within biotechnology, genetic engineering, and synthetic chemistry have opened up new avenues towards the search for therapies that can substitute for antibiotics. This review provides an introduction to the various promising approaches that have been adopted in this regard. Whilst the use of bacteriophages and antibodies has been partly implemented, other promising strategies, such as probiotics, lysins, and antimicrobial peptides, are in various stages of development. Propitious concepts such as genetically modified phages, antibacterial oligonucleotides, and CRISPR-Cas9 are also discussed.

Alternatives to Conventional Antibiotics in the Era of Antimicrobial Resistance