TY - JOUR
T1 - Algal Metabolites as Novel Therapeutics Against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
T2 - A Review
AU - Ibraheem, Ibraheem Borie M.
AU - Alharbi, Reem Mohammed
AU - Abdel-Raouf, Neveen
AU - Al-Enazi, Nouf Mohammad
AU - Alsamhary, Khawla Ibrahim
AU - Ali, Hager Mohammed
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 by the authors.
PY - 2025/8
Y1 - 2025/8
N2 - Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a multidrug-resistant pathogen, poses a significant threat to global healthcare. This review evaluates the potential of marine algal metabolites as novel antibacterial agents against MRSA. We explore the clinical importance of S. aureus, the emergence of MRSA as a “superbug”, and its resistance mechanisms, including target modification, drug inactivation, efflux pumps, biofilm formation, and quorum sensing. The limitations of conventional antibiotics (e.g., β-lactams, vancomycin, macrolides) are discussed, alongside the promise of algal-derived compounds such as fatty acids, pigments, polysaccharides, terpenoids, and phenolic compounds. These metabolites exhibit potent anti-MRSA activity by disrupting cell division (via FtsZ inhibition), destabilizing membranes, and inhibiting protein synthesis and metabolic pathways, effectively countering multiple resistance mechanisms. Leveraging advances in algal biotechnology, this review highlights the untapped potential of marine algae to drive innovative, sustainable therapeutic strategies against antibiotic resistance.
AB - Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a multidrug-resistant pathogen, poses a significant threat to global healthcare. This review evaluates the potential of marine algal metabolites as novel antibacterial agents against MRSA. We explore the clinical importance of S. aureus, the emergence of MRSA as a “superbug”, and its resistance mechanisms, including target modification, drug inactivation, efflux pumps, biofilm formation, and quorum sensing. The limitations of conventional antibiotics (e.g., β-lactams, vancomycin, macrolides) are discussed, alongside the promise of algal-derived compounds such as fatty acids, pigments, polysaccharides, terpenoids, and phenolic compounds. These metabolites exhibit potent anti-MRSA activity by disrupting cell division (via FtsZ inhibition), destabilizing membranes, and inhibiting protein synthesis and metabolic pathways, effectively countering multiple resistance mechanisms. Leveraging advances in algal biotechnology, this review highlights the untapped potential of marine algae to drive innovative, sustainable therapeutic strategies against antibiotic resistance.
KW - MRSA
KW - Staphylococcus aureus
KW - algal metabolites
KW - antibacterial agents
KW - bioactive compounds
KW - multidrug resistance
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105014322130
U2 - 10.3390/pharmaceutics17080989
DO - 10.3390/pharmaceutics17080989
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:105014322130
SN - 1999-4923
VL - 17
JO - Pharmaceutics
JF - Pharmaceutics
IS - 8
M1 - 989
ER -
