Antibiotics play a key role in the prevention and treatment of bacterial diseases for human and animals. The widespread use of antibiotics results in bacterial exposure to the concentrations that are lower than the MIC (that is, sub-inhibitory concentration (sub-MIC)) in the environment, humans, and livestock, which can lead to antibiotic resistance. In this review, we focus on the impact of sub-MIC antibiotics in bacterial virulence. This paper summarized the known relationships between sub-MIC antibiotics in the environment and bacterial virulence. Together, considering the impact of sub-MIC antibiotics and their alternative products in the virulence of bacteria, it is helpful to the rational use of antibiotics and the development of antibiotic alternative products to provide new insights.Key points• Sub-MIC level antibiotics exist in the environment, humans, and livestock.• The review includes mechanisms of sub-MIC antibiotics in bacterial virulence.• New antibacterial strategies and agents are being a new way to weaken virulence. Graphical Abstract.
Keywords: Alternative agents; Antibiotics; Bacterial virulence; SOS response; Sub-MIC.