RNA-based antibacterial agents: Mechanisms, functional insights, and challenges in therapeutic development

Antibacterial resistance is a vivified worldwide problem of health care. RNA-based antibacterial agents, on the other hand, present a new method of using mechanisms such as RNA interference (RNAi), riboswitch regulation, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)- CRISPR-associated protein (Cas) systems, and antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) to the max. CRISPR-Cas systems allow opportunity to cure targeted region of a resistant gene or cut it out completely, which is a highly adaptable method for treating multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. ASOs, along with peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) and phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers (PMOs), are substances that stop bacterial gene expression, thus, minimizing the pathogenicity. Nevertheless, their promise is put down because of problems such as delivery efficiency, molecular stability, and off-target effects that come with these. Innovations in chemical changes and delivery technologies have resulted in the development of the stable and targeted delivery of RNA-based agents. This study takes a close look at the mechanisms, therapeutic potential, and challenges of RNA-based antibacterials and stresses their ability to be the most successful tools in combating antibiotic resistance. The combination of these strategies with the existing antibiotics could increase their efficacy, make it possible for us to address resistance and open new ways for antibacterial therapies.