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Combating multidrug-resistant bacteria: current strategies for the discovery of novel antibacterials.

Authors :
O'Connell KM
Hodgkinson JT
Sore HF
Welch M
Salmond GP
Spring DR
Source :
Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English) [Angew Chem Int Ed Engl] 2013 Oct 04; Vol. 52 (41), pp. 10706-33. Date of Electronic Publication: 2013 Sep 05.
Publication Year :
2013

Abstract

The introduction of effective antibacterial therapies for infectious diseases in the mid-20th century completely revolutionized clinical practices and helped to facilitate the development of modern medicine. Many potentially life-threatening conditions became easily curable, greatly reducing the incidence of death or disability resulting from bacterial infections. This overwhelming historical success makes it very difficult to imagine life without effective antibacterials; however, the inexorable rise of antibiotic resistance has made this a very real and disturbing possibility for some infections. The ruthless selection for resistant bacteria, coupled with insufficient investment in antibacterial research, has led to a steady decline in the efficacy of existing therapies and a paucity of novel structural classes with which to replace them, or complement their use. This situation has resulted in a very pressing need for the discovery of novel antibiotics and treatment strategies, the development of which is likely to be a key challenge to 21st century medicinal chemistry.<br /> (Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1521-3773
Volume :
52
Issue :
41
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
24038605
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.201209979