鉴于线粒体失调是许多癌症的生物标志物，阳离子季鏻盐 (QPS) 缀合是抗癌药物设计中广泛采用的策略。 QPS 缀合的化合物在带负电荷的线粒体中表现出更大的细胞渗透和积累，因此表现出增强的活性。线粒体和细菌之间的系统发育相似性为探索线粒体靶向化合物的抗菌特性提供了理论基础。此外，由于线粒体在病原微生物（包括真菌和寄生虫）生存中的重要性，该策略也可以扩展到这些生物体。本综述回顾了有关各种 QPS 结合化合物抗菌活性的最新文献，并为探索这些化合物的药物化学提供了未来方向。

Given that mitochondrial dysregulation is a biomarker of many cancers, cationic quaternary phosphonium salt (QPS) conjugation is a widely utilized strategy for anticancer drug design. QPS-conjugated compounds exhibit greater cell permeation and accumulation in negatively charged mitochondria, and thus, show enhanced activity. Phylogenetic similarities between mitochondria and bacteria have provided a rationale for exploring the antibacterial properties of mitochondria-targeted compounds. Additionally, due to the importance of mitochondria in the survival of pathogenic microbes, including fungi and parasites, this strategy can be extended to these organisms as well. This review examines recent literature on the antimicrobial activities of various QPS-conjugated compounds and provides future directions for exploring the medicinal chemistry of these compounds.