SVOA Microbiology

Maria Érika de O. Silva¹, Rebeca Azevedo de L. Madeira², Dieferson L. de Souza³, Maria Eloyse de M. Sousa³, Anna Lídia N. Varela³, Wallison Felipe da S. Souza³, Leandro M. Correia⁴, Ademar M. Filho³, Ingrid Gonçalves P. Dantas³, Cícera Natalia F. L. Gondim⁵, Xenia Germana R. de Alencar³, Olívia Caroline M. de Moura⁴, Hayane Mateus S. Gomes³, Lucas dos S. Sa³, Márcia Jordana F. Macêdo³, Matheus dos S. Lourenço³, Janês I. de Brito³, Cosma Ramonniely M. de Alencar¹, José W. Almeida-Bezerra^3*

¹Dr. Leão Sampaio University Center, Juazeiro do Norte – CE, Brazil.

²Faculty of Medicine of Juazeiro do Norte- CE, Brazil.

³Regional University of Cariri, Crato – CE, Brazil.

⁴Federal University of Cariri, Juazeiro do Norte – CE, Brazil.

⁵Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife – PE, Brazil.

*Corresponding Author: Prof. Dr. José Weverton Almeida-Bezerra, Regional University of Cariri, 63105-000, Crato, CE, Brazil.

https://doi.org/10.58624/SVOAMB.2026.07.011

Received: August 07, 2026

Published: August 29, 2026

Citation: Silva MEO, Madeira RAL, Souza DL, Sousa MEM, Varela ALN, Souza WFDS, Correia LM, Filho AM, Dantas IGP, Gondim CNFL, Alencar XGR, Moura OCM, Gomes HMS, Sa LS, Macêdo MJF, Lourenço MS, Brito JI, Alencar CRM, Almeida-Bezerra JW. Mechanisms of Action and Antimicrobial Resistance: A Comprehensive Review of Antibacterials and Antifungals and Microbial Evolution. SVOA Microbiology 2026, 7:4, 120-134. doi: 10.58624/ SVOAMB.2026.07.011

Abstract

The emergence and evolution of antimicrobial agents have revolutionized modern medicine, enabling the effective treatment of bacterial and fungal infections. This article reviews the main mechanisms of action of antibacterial and antifungal agents, including inhibition of cell wall synthesis, protein synthesis, plasma membrane damage, and inhibition of nucleic acids and essential metabolites. The various mechanisms of microbial resistance are also discussed, such as the production of inactivating enzymes, changes in membrane permeability, modification of target sites, efflux systems, and biofilm formation. Microbial evolution through mutations and horizontal and vertical gene transfer is also addressed, highlighting natural selection as a driver of resistance. The conclusion is that the indiscriminate use of antimicrobials has accelerated the emergence of resistant strains, urgently requiring new therapeutic strategies and greater awareness of the rational use of these drugs.

Keywords: Antibacterials, Antifungals, Mechanisms of Action, Antimicrobial Resistance, Bacterial Evolution, Horizontal Gene Transfer, Selective Toxicity, Biofilms