**10. sRNAs as antimicrobial drug targets**

The evolution of CA-MRSA (Community Associated-Methicillin Resistance *Staphylococcus aureus*) strains are major threats to healthcare. Currently available narrow-spectrum antibiotics target only particular functions of bacteria such as synthesis of peptidoglycans, DNA replication, and protein synthesis. Hence, a broad spectrum of antibiotics can target different cellular pathways, thus reducing the resistance pattern among the pathogens. Other methods to reduce antimicrobial resistance are by targetting the production of virulence factors causing the host damage and disease [97].

Since most of the currently used antibiotics bind to the ribosomal RNA, this influences the designing of new multi-targeted antibacterial drugs with respect to small RNAs. Riboswitches, which are termed as metabolites sensing mRNAs, are currently used as a structured receptor that binds with smaller metabolites with higher precision and thus regulates downstream genes. Riboswitches regulates 7 operons and 33 genes, which respond for intracellular concentration of SAM, TPP, FMN, Glc-6P, certain amino acids residues and 7- aminomethyl-7-deazaguanine (preQ1) [98]. Targeting any of these riboswitches would alter the gene's expression pattern even if the cells do not possess any natural compounds. Several synthetically designed analog of guanine upon binding with the purine riboswitches inhibits growth [99].
