University of Leeds biological scientists and
chemists are re-examining old compounds to see
whether they could still combat increasingly
resistant bacteria.
Of the thousands of natural product antibiotics
discovered to date, only a handful have been
developed for the treatment of bacterial infection.
The clinically unexploited majority likely include
compounds with untapped potential as antibacterial
drugs, and in view of the ever-growing unmet medical
need for such agents, warrant systematic
re-evaluation.
No novel drug class effective against the
problematic ESKAPE pathogens (Enterococcus faecium,
Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae,
Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and
Enterobacter species) has emerged to reach the
clinic.
By studying compounds that have already shown
antibacterial properties, the scientists say there
is scope for a potential fast-track through the
challenging early stages of drug discovery.
For more information
Revisiting unexploited antibiotics in search of new
antibacterial drug candidates: the case of ?-actinorhodin
Link...
Old antibiotic compounds could become tomorrow’s
life-saving drugs
Link...
MDN |