Microbiology & Virology

Small-molecule compounds have emerged as pivotal tools in microbiological and virological research, possessing both fundamental exploratory significance and translational clinical value. Their applications span the entire spectrum from mechanistic elucidation and drug development to ecological modulation. Beyond traditional antibiotics and antiviral agents, the scope of small molecules has expanded to include novel entities such as metabolic and signaling modulators, molecular probes, and PROTAC degraders. By precisely targeting pathogen proteins or critical host pathways (e.g., lipid kinases, autophagy systems), these compounds not only provide refined means for dissecting microbial pathogenic mechanisms and viral life cycles, but also offer broad-spectrum and highly effective candidate therapeutics against drug-resistant bacteria and emerging or re-emerging viruses.

Furthermore, small molecules enable selective modulation of the microbiome, balancing interactions between beneficial and pathogenic microorganisms. Coupled with advances in high-throughput screening technologies, they continue to overcome limitations related to target specificity and drug resistance, thereby serving as a crucial bridge between basic research and clinical anti-infective practice. Collectively, small-molecule compounds offer diversified solutions to global public health challenges.