The shikimate pathway is an essential metabolic route in bacteria that generates chorismate, a central intermediate linking primary metabolism to the biosynthesis of aromatic amino acids and diverse infection-relevant metabolites.

Its absence in humans and conservation across pathogens make it an attractive target for antimicrobial development. However, despite extensive biochemical characterization, translation of shikimate-pathway inhibition into clinically useful antibiotics has remained limited due to challenges including permeability barriers, metabolic redundancy, and conditional essentiality

In this review, the shikimate-chorismate metabolic network is highlighted as a promising target for antibacterial and antivirulence therapies. The review identifies key upstream enzymatic targets, including DAHP synthase, EPSP synthase, and shikimate kinase, and demonstrates how disruption of downstream chorismate-derived pathways involved in siderophore production can suppress bacterial virulence. The findings support a dual-targeting strategy that combines inhibition of bacterial growth with attenuation of pathogenicity, offering new opportunities to address antimicrobial resistance.

Summary as published by the college when announcing this work. See the journal article for the full abstract.