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