Antimicrobial resistance and gene therapy: emerging molecular strategies for a global health threat

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) remains a critical global health challenge, with rising resistance limiting treatment options and increasing morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs despite advances in stewardship and prevention. As a result, there is growing interest in innovative therapies, including gene-based approaches. Technologies such as RNA-based therapeutics and CRISPR-Cas systems offer the potential to directly target and modify the genetic determinants of resistance, enabling restoration of antimicrobial susceptibility, reduction of pathogen virulence, and containment of resistance gene spread.