2.8 Virulence inhibitors
Virulence inhibitors function by disabling or weakening pathogens instead of just stopping their growth like antibiotics. They target virulence mechanisms, such as the quorum sensing (QS) system. These inhibitors can overcome issues associated with traditional antibiotics, like antibiotic resistance and harm to helpful bacteria, while making pathogens more vulnerable to the host’s immune system. This makes them a promising alternative to standard antibiotics.2,23