Antibiotics 2019, 8(1), 8; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics8010008
The Quest for Novel Antimicrobial Compounds: Emerging Trends in Research, Development, and Technologies
1
Analytical Services, Abon Pharmaceuticals, Northvale, NJ 07647, USA
2
Department of Chemistry, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, UK
3
Biomolecular Interaction Centre and School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800 Christchurch, New Zealand
4
Rochester Institute of Technology, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, 85 Lomb Memorial Dr, Rochester, NY 14623, USA
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 8 January 2019 / Revised: 17 January 2019 / Accepted: 20 January 2019 / Published: 24 January 2019
Abstract
Pathogenic antibiotic resistant bacteria pose one of the most important health challenges of the 21st century. The overuse and abuse of antibiotics coupled with the natural evolutionary processes of bacteria has led to this crisis. Only incremental advances in antibiotic development have occurred over the last 30 years. Novel classes of molecules, such as engineered antibodies, antibiotic enhancers, siderophore conjugates, engineered phages, photo-switchable antibiotics, and genome editing facilitated by the CRISPR/Cas system, are providing new avenues to facilitate the development of antimicrobial therapies. The informatics revolution is transforming research and development efforts to discover novel antibiotics. The explosion of nanotechnology and micro-engineering is driving the invention of antimicrobial materials, enabling the cultivation of “uncultivable” microbes and creating specific and rapid diagnostic technologies. Finally, a revival in the ecological aspects of microbial disease management, the growth of prebiotics, and integrated management based on the “One Health” model, provide additional avenues to manage this health crisis. These, and future scientific and technological developments, must be coupled and aligned with sound policy and public awareness to address the risks posed by rising antibiotic resistance. View Full-TextKeywords:
antibiotics; resistance; antibiotic targets; antimicrobial materials; microbiome
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Mantravadi, P.K.; Kalesh, K.A.; Dobson, R.C.J.; Hudson, A.O.; Parthasarathy, A. The Quest for Novel Antimicrobial Compounds: Emerging Trends in Research, Development, and Technologies. Antibiotics 2019, 8, 8.
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