biomolecules Review Mitochondria and Antibiotics: For Good or for Evil? Juan M. Suárez-Rivero † , Carmen J. Pastor-Maldonado † , Suleva Povea-Cabello, Mónica Álvarez-Córdoba, Irene Villalón-García, Marta Talaverón-Rey, Alejandra Suárez-Carrillo, Manuel Munuera-Cabeza and José A. Sánchez-Alcázar * Andalusian Center for Developmental Biology (CABD-CSIC-Pablo de Olavide University) and Center for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases, Carlos III Health Institute, 41013 Seville, Spain;
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[email protected] † These authors contributed equally to this work. Abstract: The discovery and application of antibiotics in the common clinical practice has undeniably been one of the major medical advances in our times. Their use meant a drastic drop in infectious diseases-related mortality and contributed to prolonging human life expectancy worldwide. Never- theless, antibiotics are considered by many a double-edged sword. Their extensive use in the past few years has given rise to a global problem: antibiotic resistance. This factor and the increasing evidence that a wide range of antibiotics can damage mammalian mitochondria, have driven a significant sector of the medical and scientific communities to advise against the use of antibiotics for purposes Citation: Suárez-Rivero, J.M.; other to treating severe infections. Notwithstanding, a notorious number of recent studies support Pastor-Maldonado, C.J.; the use of these drugs to treat very diverse conditions, ranging from cancer to neurodegenerative or Povea-Cabello, S.; Álvarez-Córdoba, M.; Villalón-García, I.; Talaverón-Rey, mitochondrial diseases.