Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2018
DOI
10.1177/1535370218755659
Publication Title
Experimental Biology and Medicine
Volume
2018
Pages
1-16
Abstract
The increasing emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria is recognized as a major threat to human health worldwide. While the use of small molecule antibiotics has enabled many modern medical advances, it has also facilitated the development of resistant organisms. This minireview provides an overview of current small molecule drugs approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in humans, the unintended consequences of antibiotic use, and the mechanisms that underlie the development of drug resistance. Promising new approaches and strategies to counter antibiotic-resistant bacteria with small molecules are highlighted. However, continued public investment in this area is critical to maintain an edge in our evolutionary "arms race" against antibiotic-resistant microorganisms. Impact statement The alarming increase in antibiotic-resistant microorganisms is a rapidly emerging threat to human health throughout the world. Historically, small molecule drugs have played a major role in controlling bacterial infections and they continue to offer tremendous potential in countering resistant organisms. This minireview provides a broad overview of the relevant issues, including the diversity of FDA-approved small molecule drugs and mechanisms of drug resistance, unintended consequences of antibiotic use, the current state of development for small molecule antibacterials and financial challenges that impact progress towards novel therapies. The content will be informative to diverse stakeholders, including clinicians, basic scientists, translational scientists and policy makers, and may be used as a bridge between these key players to advance the development of much-needed therapeutics.
Rights
This article is open access under a Creative Commons license.
Original Publication Citation
Coussens, N. P., Molinaro, A. L., Culbertson, K. J., Peryea, T., Zahoranszky-Kohalmi, G., Hall, M. D., & Daines, D. A. (2018). Better living through chemistry: Addressing emerging antibiotic resistance. Experimental Biology and Medicine, 2018, 1-16. doi:10.1177/1535370218755659
Repository Citation
Coussens, Nathan P.; Molinaro, Ashley L.; Culbertson, Kayla J.; Peryea, Tyler; Zahoránszky-Köhalmi, Gergely; Hall, Matthew D.; and Daines, Dayle A., "Better Living Through Chemistry: Addressing Emerging Antibiotic Resistance" (2018). Biological Sciences Faculty Publications. 230.
https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/biology_fac_pubs/230
ORCID
0000-0002-9610-436X (Daines)