Antibiotherapy protocols for infectious disease control were first applied in
1940s with penicillin. Although they led to a major decrease in morbidity and mortality
rates, they were also responsible for the rapid emergence and dissemination of multidrug-
resistant bacteria (MDR). This phenomena led to the prompt development of new
antimicrobial compounds, which soon became ineffective due to bacteria ability to
develop resistant traits through mutations or resistance genes transfer.
However, the development of new approaches for prevention and control of emerging
infections remains one of the major priorities and challenges for Research and
Innovation (R&I). The worldwide mortality rate due to infectious diseases keeps
exponentially increasing, not only due to MDR bacteria dissemination, but also due to
the decline in the development and commercialization of new generations of
antibacterial compounds.
Considering the “One Health” concept, new antibacterial strategies are urgent, for
human and veterinary medicine. Several R&I approaches are being followed, including
phage therapy, antimicrobial peptides and bacteriocins, probiotics, natural compounds,
immunomodulation via vaccination and biocides.
Keywords: Antimicrobial peptides, Antimicrobial resistance, Bacteriocins,
Bacteriophages, Biocides, Biofilm, Generally Recognized as Safe, Host,
Immunomodulation, Lytic, Multi-Drug-Resistant, Natural compounds, Nisin,
“One Health”, Pathogens, Probiotics, Research and innovation, Therapeutic
strategies, Vaccination, Veterinary Medicine.
