The role of efflux pumps in microbial resistance: an approach to the topic
Keywords:
FARMACORRESISTENCIA MICROBIANA; PROTEÍNAS BACTERIANAS; RESISTENCIA A MÚLTIPLES MEDICAMENTOS.; DRUG RESISTANCE, MICROBIAL; BACTERIAL PROTEINS; DRUG RESISTANCE, MULTIPLE.; RESISTÊNCIA MICROBIANA A MEDICAMENTOS; PROTEÍNAS DE BACTÉRIAS; RESISTÊNCIA A MÚLTIPLOS MEDICAMENTOS.Abstract
Introduction: bacterial resistance to antibiotics constitutes a global threat to public health, driven by adaptive mechanisms such as efflux pumps.
Objective: to describe the role of efflux pumps in microbial resistance and their involvement in multidrug-resistant strains.
Methods: a systematic review of the scientific literature was conducted across different databases, using a keyword algorithm with Boolean operators to identify relevant sources. The selected studies, after applying rigorous inclusion and exclusion criteria, were critically evaluated in terms of timeliness, methodological quality, and thematic relevance, and coherently integrated into the final synthesis of the review.
Development: efflux pumps are membrane proteins that expel antibiotics out of the cell, reducing their internal concentration. They are classified into families such as ATP-binding cassette transporters, major facilitators, resistance-nodulation-division, small multidrug resistance, and multidrug and toxic compound extrusion. These structures are present in Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Acinetobacter baumannii. They are also associated with biofilm formation and antimicrobial tolerance. Research on efflux pump inhibitors suggests promising therapeutic alternatives, although no drugs have yet been approved for clinical use.
Conclusions: efflux pumps are key mechanisms in bacterial resistance and in the emergence of multidrug-resistant strains. Their study opens possibilities for designing inhibitors that enhance the effectiveness of existing antibiotics.
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