MINI REVIEW article
Front. Microbiol.
Sec. Antimicrobials, Resistance and Chemotherapy
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2025.1584479
This article is part of the Research TopicEmerging Antimicrobials: Sources, Mechanisms of Action, Spectrum of Activity, Combination Antimicrobial Therapy, and Resistance MechanismsView all 33 articles
Mini-Review of the Effect of 5-Fluorouracil on Pseudomonas aeruginosa : Impact on Virulence, Biofilm Formation, and Bacterial Growth
Provisionally accepted
- King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a Gram-negative opportunistic pathogen that poses a significant threat to public health due to its inherent and acquired resistance to multiple antibiotics. This mini-review explores the antimicrobial potential of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), a chemotherapeutic agent normally used in oncology, and currently under investigation for its bacteriostatic and antibiofilm effects against P. aeruginosa. 5-FU functions by inhibiting thymidylate synthase, disrupting nucleotide metabolism, and interfering with essential bacterial processes, such as quorum sensing. Studies in vitro have demonstrated its ability to inhibit biofilm creation and decrease virulence, but findings about its impact on preformed biofilms have been contradictory. Synergistic interactions between 5-FU and antibiotics, especially gentamicin, have shown promise in enhancing antibacterial effectiveness. The aim of this mini-review was to consolidate current findings, pinpoint research gaps, and suggest future directions for potentially repurposing 5-FU as an adjunctive treatment for P. aeruginosa. By placing the current evidence in context, we hope to guide further studies towards determining the clinical viability of 5-FU as a treatment option against this formidable pathogen.
Keywords: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 5-fluorouracil, antimicrobial resistance, Chemotherapeutic agent, Opportunistic pathogen
Received: 27 Feb 2025; Accepted: 27 Jun 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Niazy, Alrashed and Niazy. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Abdurahman Niazy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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