title: Overcoming resistance to β-lactam antibiotics.
abstract: β-Lactam antibiotics are one of the most important antibiotic classes but are plagued by problems of resistance, and the development of new β-lactam antibiotics through side-chain modification of existing β-lactam classes is not keeping pace with resistance development. In this JOCSynopsis, we summarize small molecule strategies to overcome resistance to β-lactam antibiotics. These approaches include the development of β-lactamase inhibitors and compounds that interfere with the ability of the bacteria to sense an antibiotic threat and activate their resistance mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States.
authors.forename: Roberta J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Worthington
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Melander
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D055808:Drug Discovery; D015394:Molecular Structure; D054852:Small Molecule Libraries / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D018440:beta-Lactam Resistance / Q000187:drug effects*; D065093:beta-Lactamase Inhibitors; D047090:beta-Lactams / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D054852:Small Molecule Libraries; D065093:beta-Lactamase Inhibitors; D047090:beta-Lactams