Work

Antibacterial PROTACs: the road ahead for next-generation antibiotics?

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The discovery of antibiotics revolutionized modern medicine, enabling the treatment of once-deadly bacterial infections. However, the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has severely limited their effectiveness, making antimicrobial resistance (AMR) a major global health challenge. Developing new antibiotics with novel mechanisms of action is notably difficult. A promising approach is targeted protein degradation (TPD), a technology that has transformed drug discovery and shown success in cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and immunology. In this review, we explore the potential of TPD to create next-generation antibacterials, its advantages over conventional antibiotics, and current research on prokaryotic protein degradation systems and BacPROTAC molecules.

Source: Drug Discovery Today

DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2026.104656

Authors: Andrea Milelli, Simone Raimondi, Somayeh Asgharpour, Jean-Denis Docquier, Francesca Spyrakis

Institutions: University of Bologna, University of Turin, University of Siena

Language: English

Topic: Protein Degradation and Inhibitors

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,720