Unveiling the Proteomic Landscape of Bacterial Virulence and Antibiotic Resistance Mechanisms

The spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a critical challenge to the effectiveness of existing antimicrobial drugs (AMDs) against various infectious pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protists. Proteomics, together with other omics technologies, are powerful tools to disentangle the complex molecular processes underpinning the mechanisms of action (MoA) and mechanisms of resistance of existing AMDs. This is a first step toward devising new treatment strategies based on novel molecular targets. Herein, after a brief overview of the main aspects of resistance, we review technologies and strategies in proteomics and how they can be used to advance our knowledge of mechanisms of action and resistance of AMDs. We also provide examples of integrating proteomics with other omics approaches in AMR research.