Autophagy: A Potential Antibacterial Therapeutic Target

Bacterial infections caused by pathogenic bacteria, like tuberculosis by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, listeriosis by Listeria monocytogenes, and gastroenteritis by Salmonella typhimurium, are on the rise. With the increase in pathogen resistance to antibiotics, novel approaches are required for therapeutic interventions to treat bacterial infections. Autophagy is an essential host defense mechanism against infections and, in recent times, has shown promising potential as a therapeutic target in this regard. This article reviews the role of autophagy during infection with pathogenic bacteria and recent studies which highlight the importance of autophagy as a prospective therapeutic target.