Microorganism (including virus and bacterium)

"Microorganisms including viruses and bacteria" is a broad, non-canonical category encompassing diverse infectious agents that can cause disease in humans and other hosts. They are frequent targets of therapeutic intervention through broad- or narrow-spectrum antibiotics, antivirals, and other anti-infective agents. However, because this term refers to groups rather than specific molecules or biological entities, it cannot be classified as a single therapeutic target. Modern drug development increasingly emphasizes narrow-spectrum or targeted approaches (e.g., species- or strain-specific) to avoid collateral damage to the beneficial microbiome and limit resistance[1][2]. Additionally, microbial biofilms and metabolic pathways can be targeted for more efficient and selective therapies, but each approach still focuses on specific, well-defined molecular targets within individual microbes[4][1]. This entry is too broad for molecular target databases, where each entry should ideally represent a unique, well-defined biological molecule or structure.

Other names

MicroorganismsMicrobesPathogensVirus and bacteriumMicrobial organisms

Inhibition of cell wall or membrane synthesis (antibiotics targeting bacteria); Inhibition of metabolic enzymes/proteins (e.g., bacterial or viral enzymes targeted by drugs); Inhibition of nucleic acid replication (many antivirals/bactericidals); Disruption of biofilm matrix or signaling (biofilm-targeting therapies); Immune modulation or enhancement (some biologics, vaccines).