Microbial drug discovery: 80 years of progress.
Microbes have made a phenomenal contribution to the health and well-being of people throughout the world. In addition to producing many primary metabolites, such as amino acids, vitamins and nucleotides, they are capable of making secondary metabolites, which constitute half of the pharmaceuticals on the market today and provide agriculture with many essential products. This review centers on these beneficial secondary metabolites, the discovery of which goes back 80 years to the time when penicillin was discovered by Alexander Fleming.
Demain
Arnold L
AL
Research Institute for Scientists Emeriti, Drew University, Madison, NJ 07940, USA. ademain@drew.edu
Sanchez
Sergio
S
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000266:history* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001688:Biological Products / Q000737:chemistry; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D025141:Drug Resistance, Fungal; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001688:Biological Products