Diverse chemotypes of polyketides as promising antimicrobial agents: latest progress

Microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa, significantly impact human health by causing infections that can lead to serious health issues, including mortality and morbidity. Antimicrobials, including antibacterials, anti-virals, anti-fungals, and anti-parasitics, effectively prevent and treat infections in humans and animals. However, pathogens have developed resistance to these antimicrobials, enabling them to survive and persist even in the presence of antibiotics. There is a pressing need to develop new antibiotics with different mechanisms of action to combat infectious diseases effectively. Nature provides a vast therapy and drug discovery resource, offering unparalleled chemical diversity and structural complexity. Among these resources, polyketide synthase machinery produces secondary metabolites in plants, animals, marine organisms, and fungi, significantly contributing to drug discovery. Notably, polyketides exhibit diverse chemotypes, which can facilitate the discovery of antimicrobial drugs. Also, polyketide-based drugs, including anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-parasitic, have been approved for treating various infectious diseases. This review summarizes recently identified natural polyketides with potential antimicrobial activities.