Bacterial and mammalian proteins and cell membranes

The term 'Bacterial and mammalian proteins and cell membranes' refers to a non-specific collection of biological structures rather than a discrete molecular target. This category includes the vast array of enzymes, structural proteins, and lipid bilayers found in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms (StatPearls, 2023). Because these components are fundamental to all life, agents that interact with them indiscriminately—such as povidone-iodine or chlorhexidine—are typically restricted to topical use as antiseptics or disinfectants (NIH PubChem). These agents function by causing widespread protein denaturation and membrane lysis, which provides broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity but also poses a high risk of cytotoxicity to host mammalian cells (PubMed, PMC7120411). In the context of pharmacology and drug discovery, a valid target must be specific enough to allow for a therapeutic window; therefore, this broad grouping is considered 'incorrect' as a single therapeutic target because it lacks the specificity required for systemic drug development (Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, 2006).

Non-specific denaturation of proteins and physical disruption of lipid bilayer integrity (StatPearls).