Antibiotics for Emerging Pathogens

Toward New Scaffolds

Most existing antibiotics are derived from a small number of core molecular structures or scaffolds. As more and more pathogens emerge that are resistant to existing antibiotics, Fischbach and Walsh (p. 1089 ) review why renewed efforts must be made to find not only new antibiotics but new scaffolds. Approaches in the areas of natural products, synthesis, and target-based discovery are all yielding promising antibiotics candidates. The battle against resistance should also involve researching narrow-spectrum antibiotics and using combination therapies to extend the usefulness of drugs with high intrinsic resistance rates.