Microbial Bioactives
Microbial Bioactives | Online ISSN 2209-2161
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Volume 9 Number 1 2026
REVIEWS (Open Access)
Rethinking Antimicrobial Strategies: Integrating Microbiome Modulation and Next-Generation Therapeutics to Combat Multidrug-Resistant Pathogens
Polycarpe Nkundayezu 1*
Microbial Bioactives 9 (1) 1-8 https://doi.org/10.25163/microbbioacts.9110626
Submitted: 06 February 2026 Revised: 21 March 2026 Accepted: 01 April 2026 Published: 03 April 2026
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represents a mounting global health crisis, threatening the efficacy of conventional antibiotics and contributing to escalating morbidity and mortality. This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesizes current evidence on innovative antimicrobial strategies, emphasizing the integration of microbiome-based therapies, phage-derived lysins, monoclonal antibodies, and postbiotics. Rapid diagnostic tools, combined with precision therapeutics, are pivotal in shifting from broad-spectrum empirical treatments toward pathogen-specific interventions. Microbiome modulation, including the use of probiotics, prebiotics, and short-chain fatty acids, has emerged as a critical component in reducing infection susceptibility and maintaining immune homeostasis. Additionally, postbiotics and antimicrobial peptides offer promising adjuncts to conventional therapy, providing targeted microbial inhibition while minimizing collateral damage to commensal microbiota. Bispecific antibodies and other novel biologics further expand the therapeutic arsenal, particularly against multidrug-resistant bacteria and hyperinflammatory states. Evidence suggests that leveraging host-microbe interactions can enhance both innate and adaptive immunity, highlighting the importance of integrated therapeutic approaches. Overall, this review underscores the necessity of interdisciplinary strategies to combat AMR, combining molecular, microbiological, and immunological insights to optimize clinical outcomes and preserve global health.
Keywords: Antimicrobial resistance, microbiome, postbiotics, phage therapy, monoclonal antibodies, short-chain fatty acids, precision therapeutics
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