Microbial cells as whole organisms

Microbial cells as whole organisms encompass a diverse array of microscopic life forms, including bacteria, fungi, and protozoa, which are central to the study of infectious diseases and the development of anti-infective therapies. In pharmacology, the whole organism is often treated as the target during phenotypic screening to identify drugs that can overcome physiological barriers like the cell wall or efflux pumps, which might be missed in isolated biochemical assays (Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, 2011). This approach is critical for addressing pathogens that cause conditions ranging from minor skin infections to life-threatening sepsis (NIH, 2023). Additionally, whole microbial cells are increasingly used as therapeutic agents themselves, such as in the case of probiotics for gut health or live-attenuated vaccines that stimulate a robust immune response (WHO, 2020). However, targeting whole organisms requires careful consideration of the host's commensal microbiota to avoid dysbiosis and the escalating global threat of antimicrobial resistance (CDC, 2021).

Other names

MicroorganismsMicrobesWhole-cell targetsPathogenic microbesCommensal bacteriaProbiotic organisms

Drugs targeting whole microbial cells typically act by disrupting essential cellular processes such as cell wall synthesis, protein translation, or nucleic acid replication. In the context of biotherapeutics, whole organisms may function through competitive exclusion, modulation of the host immune system, or restoration of microbial diversity.